MERFISH+ Microscope Build Series: Introduction
This month, Lumencor kicks off a new series of instructional videos detailing the build of a complex MERFISH+ microscope. MERFISH (Multiplexed Error‑Robust Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) requires carefully considered system-level design choices that enable reliable, highly multiplexed spatial transcriptomics. The CELESTA Light Engine provides foundational illumination for MERFISH with stable, bright, and spectrally flexible laser outputs enabling single-molecule RNA imaging.
This video sets the stage for a multi-part tutorial series covering illumination, optics and integration considerations for your very own MERFISH+ microscope build!
We would like to thank the following contributors for their support in the development and documentation of this MERFISH imaging platform:
- Dr. Quan Zhu for the initial development of MERFISH+
- Dr. Bogdan Bintu for leading the microscope build
- Samuel Park, Ph.D. Candidate for the documented microscope build
- Cure Huntington's Disease Initiative (CHDI), with key support from Dr. Sonia Vazquez Sanchez, for funding the microscope components
Coming Soon: A Complete How-To-Build Tutorial Video for MERFISH+ Microscope
- May 14, 2026
- Bintu, B., et al. Companion research article published in Cell (2026); study conducted using a MERSCOPE platform.(opens in new window)
- Bintu, B., et al. Research article published in Cell (2026).(opens in new window)
- Zimmer, C. Science news article on olfaction and brain–nose signaling. The New York Times, April 29 2026.(opens in new window)