# Automated Staining Platform for Immunohistochemistry and In Situ Hybridization

> **NIH NIH S10** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2021 · $227,503

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Ventana Discovery Ultra is an automated stainer for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization
(ISH). The Confocal Microscopy and Image Analysis Core (CMIAC) at the Tulane National Primate Center
(TNPRC) has over 30 years of combined experience performing IHC and ISH in nonhuman primate (NHP)
tissues. Over the years, IHC and ISH have become fundamental to NIH-funded research at the TNPRC and are
widely used by both intramural and extramural investigators. IHC and ISH staining at the TNPRC is currently
performed manually by technicians with years of experience. In recent years, the CMIAC has acquired digital
pathology and computer-based analyses that allow for the sensitive detection and quantification of IHC and ISH
staining. These technological advancements have led to a need for highly reproducible IHC and ISH staining not
achievable with the current manual methods. To address this need, nine NIH-funded principal investigators with
a total of $19M per year in NIH funding have requested to be major users of the proposed Ventana Discovery
Ultra because of its ability to improve the rigor and reproducibility of their IHC and ISH data. The Ventana
Discovery Ultra is capable of completing the entire staining process from baking through secondary antibody
application, preventing the need for manual intervention at any stage of the process. Multiplex staining protocols
that require multiple rounds of primary and secondary antibody staining can also be performed without manual
intervention. The Ventana Discovery Ultra is uniquely designed for research, allowing customization of each step
of the staining protocol. This is ideal for the development of novel staining protocols, a necessity in NHP research
which often requires the optimization of antibodies primarily generated for use in other species (mouse and
human). Further, the Ventana Discovery Ultra accepts antibodies, probes, and reagents from third-party vendors,
another important feature for the continued use of our extensive catalog of NHP-validated antibodies. In addition,
the Ventana Discovery Ultra is one of the few automated stainers capable of performing ISH with signal
amplification (RNAScope, ACDbio), a new leading-edge staining technique that is rapidly gaining popularity. This
state-of-the-art functionality is necessary to meet the anticipated needs of our users for years to come. The
Ventana Discovery Ultra also comes equipped with 30 individual slide bays allowing for the simultaneous staining
of 30 unique protocols. This increases efficiency, enhances turnaround time, and facilitates the completion of
multiple service requests for a Core laboratory that accommodates 25 investigators on an annual basis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10177257
- **Project number:** 1S10OD030347-01
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert Blair
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $227,503
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10177257

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10177257, Automated Staining Platform for Immunohistochemistry and In Situ Hybridization (1S10OD030347-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10177257. Licensed CC0.

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