Molecular Histopathology & Analytical Microscopy (MHAM)
Director
Dr. Luis Del Valle
Office: 1700 Tulane Avenue, Room 612
delva@lsuhsc.edu
Mission
The Molecular Histopathology and Analytical Microscopy Core provides centralized histopathology and imaging expertise to support high-quality tissue-based research. The Core partners with investigators to enable rigorous experimental design, accurate visualization, and meaningful interpretation of molecular and cellular features in health and disease. Our mission is to advance discovery and translational research through reliable, reproducible imaging and analytical support.
Core Description
The Molecular Histopathology and Analytical Microscopy Core (MHAM) is a state-of-the-art facility providing advanced histopathology and microscopy services to investigators and clinicians at the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center.
The Core supports experimental planning and imaging studies focused on tissue pathology and the expression of cell surface and intracellular molecules, including viral proteins. Services include brightfield and confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, multiplex imaging, in situ hybridization, and in situ proximity ligation (DuoLink). These approaches are used to assess protein expression patterns and localization, mRNA levels and subcellular distribution, and protein–protein and RNA–protein interactions within cells and tissues.
In addition, the Core provides consultation on study design and data interpretation and assists investigators in developing figures and supporting data for manuscript and grant submissions.
The Molecular Histopathology section of the Core is equipped to handle conventional tissue processing through a Leica tissue processor, TP1020, with a capacity of 80 cassettes per load and different time programs. Paraffin blocks are prepared manually in a TBS Embedding Station. Tissue sections are cut in three Thermo HM340E Microtomes, one for human samples, one of which is dedicated to viral PCR procedures, and one exclusively reserved for experimental animal tissue.
The Analytical Microscopy section of the Core is equipped with the following microscopes:
- Keyence BZ-X810 all-in-one fluorescence microscope.
- Nikon TE300 automated, inverted microscope equipped with a deconvolution software (SlideBook 5.0)
- Olympus BX51 with multispectral imaging digital camera (Mantra, from Elkin-Elmer)
- Olympus FV1000 Confocal microscope.
- Motic EasyScan Pro6 Digital Scanning microscope.
| A) COBRE CORE SERVICE | COBRE | Program | Non-Member |
| Molecular Histopathology | Investigators | Members | Investigators |
| Tissue Processing | $4.00 per cassette | $6.00 per cassette | $8.00 per cassette |
| Paraffin Embedding | $3.00 per cassette | $4.00 per cassette | $6.00 per cassette |
| Sectioning | $4.00 per slide | $5.00 per slide | $7.00 per slide |
| Creation of Tissue Microarrays | $100 per slide | $140 per slide | $200 per slide |
| Hematoxylin & Eosin | $3.00 per slide | $4.00 per slide | $6.00 per slide |
| Special Staining I (PAS) | $5.00 per slide | $7.00 per slide | $10.00 per slide |
| Special Staining II (Trichrome) | $10.00 per slide | $14.00 per slide | $20.00 per slide |
| Immunohistochemistry | $15.00 per slide | $21.00 per slide | $30.00 per slide |
| Immunofluorescence | $12.00 per slide | $17.00 per slide | $24.00 per slide |
| Double Labeling | $ 20.00 per slide | $25.00 per slide | $32.00 per slide |
| TUNNEL Assay | $20.00 per slide | $25.00 per slide | $30.00 per slide |
| In situ Hybridization | $30.00 per slide | $40.00 per slide | $50.00 per slide |
| Duo Link | $40.00 per slide | $50.00 per slide | $60.00 per slide |
| Data Analysis | $50.00 per slide | $80.00 per slide | $100.00 per slide |
| B) COBRE CORE SERVICE | COBRE | Program | Non-Member |
| Analytic Microscopy | Investigators | Members | Investigators |
| Olympus BX51 | $10.00 per hour | $14.00 per hour | $20.00 per hour |
| (Comet Assay) | |||
| Keyence BZ-X800 | $25.00 per hour | $35.00 per hour | $45.00 per hour |
| Nikon E400 | $20.00 per hour | $28.00 per hour | $40.00 per hour |
| (Deconvolution) | |||
| Miotic Easy Scan Pro 6 | $35.00 per hour | $50.00 per hour | $70.00 per hour |
| (Digital Scanning) | |||
| Olympus FV1000 | $50.00 per hour | $70.00 per hour | $90.00 per hour |
| (Confocal) | |||
For microscope reservations, please use iLabs.
Link: https://my.ilabsolutions.com/service_center/3388/
For tissue processing and histopathology services, please contact Dr. Del Valle directly.
- Tissue Processing & Paraffin Embedding
- Tissue Sectioning
- Immunohistochemistry & Immunofluorescence
- Microscopy
- Figure Preparation