The Histochemical Society

What The Histochemical Society does

The Histochemical Society (HCS) is a non-profit scientific membership organization founded in 1950 and headquartered at 1801 Rockville Pike, Suite 350, Rockville, MD. It serves research scientists, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, pathologists, veterinarians, educators, and industry professionals engaged in histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and advanced microscopy. The society's core technology and intellectual products center on the Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry (JHC), a peer-reviewed journal with a 5-year impact factor of 2.8 established in 1953 and published via SAGE Publishing on platforms indexed by PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

HCS's product portfolio is structured around four pillars: (1) the JHC journal, offering free manuscript submission with optional open access publication at $4,200 per article; (2) the annual HCS scientific meeting, increasingly co-hosted with partner societies (ASMB 2025, TERMIS AM 2026); (3) the Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence (IHCIF) hands-on course at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA; and (4) a tiered grants and awards program spanning career stages (Capstone $2,000, Cornerstone $3,250, Keystone $4,000) plus merit awards including the George Gomori Award ($5,000) and David Glick Lectureship.

HCS generates revenue through membership dues ($25 undergraduate/developing-country to $100 regular), optional open access article fees, print journal subscription add-ons ($50/year), event and program sponsorships, and journal publishing arrangements with SAGE. The organization operates with 1-10 employees, is governed by an elected Council, and holds membership in the FASEB coalition (30+ scientific societies, 125,000+ researchers), which provides federal research funding advocacy and cross-society professional development resources.

Name

The Histochemical Society

Legal name

The Histochemical Society

Website

https://histochemicalsociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Histochemical Society is a 70+ year-old non-profit scientific membership organization that serves histochemistry and cell biology researchers through its peer-reviewed Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, annual scientific meetings, hands-on training courses, grants, and merit awards. It operates from Rockville, MD with a small staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Scientific Society and Peer-Reviewed Publishing

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cytology & Histopathology Diagnostics (IHC, ISH, tissue-based assays) (HLAAALAI)

Keywords

• Scientific society membership
• Peer reviewed journal publishing
• Immunohistochemistry training courses
• Histochemistry research grants
• Scientific meeting organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The society collects annual membership dues at tiered rates ranging from $25 (undergraduate/developing country) to $100 (regular membership for 1 year). Multi-year discounts are available. Emeritus members are exempt from dues.
2. Journal Publishing - Open Access Fees: JHC generates revenue through optional open access publication fees of $4,200 per article. Traditional subscription access is free to publish with no page, color, or figure charges.
3. Print Journal Subscriptions: Members and non-members may add print subscriptions to their membership for $50/year, subsidized by the society.
4. Sponsorships: HCS provides sponsorship opportunities for events, courses, meetings, and speakers aligned with its mission, reviewed on a rolling basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Histochemical Society is a non-profit scientific membership organization that advances the development and use of histochemical, immunohistochemical, and imaging techniques for studying cell, tissue, and organ structure and function. Its core offerings include the peer-reviewed Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry (JHC), an annual scientific meeting, hands-on training courses such as the IHCIF course, a portfolio of grants and merit awards for scientists at all career stages, and continuing education through webinars.

Product overview

The Histochemical Society operates as a scientific membership organization rather than a commercial product company. Its core offerings consist of the Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry (JHC) as its flagship publication, the annual HCS Annual Meeting for scientific exchange, and the IHCIF Course for hands-on technical training in immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The society also administers a portfolio of grant programs (Capstone for undergraduates, Cornerstone for graduate students, Keystone for postdoctoral fellows) and merit-based awards (including the George Gomori Award and David Glick Lectureship), all centered on advancing histochemical and imaging research techniques. Additional offerings include the Behind Our Science Podcast for science communication and regular webinars on histochemistry topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry (JHC): Official peer-reviewed journal of The Histochemical Society, publishing primary research articles, reviews, editorials, and perspectives on cell structure and function.

Products and services

• Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry (JHC) The official peer-reviewed journal of the society, established in 1953 and published by SAGE Publishing. It publishes primary research articles, reviews, editorials, and perspectives on cell structure and function, with emphasis on imaging techniques and in situ assays. Indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Free to publish with no page, color, or figure charges; optional open access at $4,200 per article.
• HCS Membership Tiered individual memberships at annual rates from $25 (undergraduate/developing country) to $100 (regular), providing voting rights, JHC online access, meeting discounts, FASEB resources, eligibility for awards and grants, and access to the membership directory and newsletter. Multi-year discounts available.
• HCS Annual Meeting Annual scientific meeting featuring plenary sessions, symposia, student poster sessions, and presentations of merit awards and grants. Typically held in conjunction with Experimental Biology or with partner societies such as ASIP, ASMB, or TERMIS AM.
• Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence (IHCIF) Course A multi-day hands-on laboratory training course providing intensive instruction in IHC and IF techniques, microscopy imaging, and troubleshooting, with lectures, wet lab sessions, and small-group discussions with expert instructors. Delivered in-person at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. Registration through MBL with HCS travel awards available for eligible participants.
• HCS Webinars Live and recorded educational webinars on histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, microscopy imaging, career development, and science policy. Sessions feature expert speakers, awardee talks, and competitions such as the Graphical Abstract Challenge. Past recordings available by request.
• HCS Research Grants (Capstone, Cornerstone, Keystone) Competitive research grants for scientists at successive career stages: Capstone Grants of $2,000 for undergraduates, Cornerstone Grants of $3,250 for graduate students and graduate medical trainees, and Keystone Grants of $4,000 for postdoctoral and clinical fellows using histochemical and imaging techniques under faculty mentorship.
• HCS Merit Awards Merit-based recognitions including the George Gomori Award ($5,000 cash prize + travel reimbursement, awarded every four years), Anna-Mary Carpenter and Ellen M. Rasch Award, Post-Doctoral Trainee Award ($2,000 honorarium), Early Career Investigator Award ($2,000 honorarium + $2,000 seed grant), Ralph D. Lillie Award ($750, on-site poster), and Lifetime Honorary Membership. Presented at the HCS Annual Meeting.
• HCS Travel Awards (HCS-TA-IHC) Travel awards of up to $1,000 for members to attend workshops, courses, and conferences where histochemical approaches are relevant, with invited-speaker reimbursements of up to $3,000.
• JHC Print Subscription Add-On Optional print subscription to JHC, subsidized by the society at $50/year, added to any membership type.
• JHC Open Access Publication Optional open access publication service for JHC articles at $4,200 per article, making accepted articles freely available; traditional subscription access remains free to publish.

Quantifiable outcome

• JHC 5-year impact factor: 2.8
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.

• SAGE PublishingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGE Publishing is the publisher of the Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry (JHC). SAGE provides online hosting, distribution through major indexing services (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science), and platform infrastructure for the journal's global accessibility.
• FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCS is a member of FASEB, a coalition of 30+ scientific societies representing over 125,000 biological and biomedical researchers. FASEB provides HCS with advocacy resources, professional development tools, mentoring programs, awards, and a collective voice for federal research funding. HCS has designated representatives to FASEB including Board Representative, Science Policy Committee, Publications Committee, and Meetings Committee members.
• Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCS partners with MBL in Woods Hole, MA to deliver the Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence (IHCIF) course. The course began in 2008 and moved to MBL in 2010, returning to MBL after post-pandemic years at other facilities. MBL provides facilities, accommodations, and equipment for the hands-on training program.
• TERMIS AM (Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society - Americas Chapter)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCS will partner with TERMIS AM for the 2026 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA (November 15-18, 2026). HCS will host a Guest Society session, recognize award recipients, and hold annual council and business meetings as part of the joint conference.
• ASIP (American Society for Investigative Pathology)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCS partners with ASIP at their annual Pathobiology meetings, organizing sessions, symposia, and travel awards. ASIP annual meetings in 2024-2026 have featured HCS-organized scientific content and joint award programs.
• ASMB (American Society for Matrix Biology)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCS partnered with ASMB for the 2025 Biennial Meeting (November 16-19, Baltimore, MD), which served as the HCS Annual Meeting that year. The societies also co-hosted the 2023 Tissue, Matrix, and Pathobiology Joint Meeting in Salt Lake City.
• BioTracsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCS collaborated with BioTrac for the IHCIF course during the post-pandemic period when the course was held at Biotrac and Montgomery College facilities in Maryland. BioTrac contributed to the organization of hands-on laboratory training components.
• International Federation of Societies for Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (IFSHC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCS is affiliated with IFSHC, which organizes the International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (ICHC) every four years. HCS sponsored ICHC 2025 in Rimini, Italy. IFSHC also awards the David Glick Lectureship.
• Behind Our Science PodcastsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHCS is a proud sponsor of the Behind Our Science podcast, which promotes novel scientific research communication. Episodes feature HCS members and cover topics relevant to the society's mission including immunology, imaging, and mentorship.
• Kansas Science FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHCS has provided sponsorship support to the Kansas Science Festival as part of its outreach and education mission.
• Neutrophil 2022minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHCS sponsored the Neutrophil 2022 conference as part of its mission to support events aligned with the society's scientific focus.
• Annual Workshop on FLIM, FRET, and Metabolic ImagingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHCS sponsors the Annual Workshop on FLIM, FRET, and Metabolic Imaging, a conference aligned with the society's focus on advanced imaging techniques.
• Buenos Aires Autophagy Conference 2023minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHCS provided sponsorship to the Buenos Aires Autophagy Conference 2023 as part of its mission-aligned sponsorship program.
• Japan Society for Histochemistry and CytochemistrysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated organization with which HCS has collaborated historically, including past joint meetings (e.g., Joint Meeting of HCS and Japanese Society of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry in 2006 in Hawaii).
• The Society for HistochemistrysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCS maintains a relationship with the Society for Histochemistry as a related organization in the IFSHC network. They held a joint meeting in 2005 in the Netherlands.
• American Association of AnatomistssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a related organization with which HCS shares overlapping scientific interests in anatomy, histology, and cell biology.
• American Society for Cell BiologysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a related organization with overlapping scientific interests in cell biology, imaging, and microscopy.
• Biological Stain CommissionsupportingOthersListed as a related organization with a shared interest in histological techniques and staining methodologies relevant to histochemistry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB): A larger scientific society in the cell biology space with overlapping interest in microscopy, imaging, and tissue biology. Both serve academic researchers and offer annual meetings, peer-reviewed journals, and awards, though ASCB operates at significantly larger scale.
• Biophysical Society: A larger scientific society with overlapping interests in advanced imaging techniques (FLIM, FRET, metabolic imaging) that HCS also sponsors via conference support. Both serve academic researchers and run scientific meetings, journals, and educational programs.
• Royal Microscopical Society: A larger scientific society focused on microscopy with significant content overlap in imaging techniques relevant to histochemistry. Both serve scientific researchers, offer training, courses, and publications related to microscopy and imaging.

Direct peers

• American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP): A peer scientific society focused on pathobiology, with which HCS co-hosts joint sessions and shares pathobiology-related content. Both operate as non-profit membership organizations publishing peer-reviewed journals and serving pathologist-researcher members.
• American Association of Anatomists (AAA): A peer anatomy-focused scientific society listed as a related organization by HCS. Both serve academic researchers in anatomy and histology, offer annual meetings and journals, and operate as non-profit professional membership organizations.
• The Society for Histochemistry: A regional peer histochemistry society based in Europe with which HCS has held joint meetings (e.g., 2005 Netherlands). Both focus on histochemistry, are members of the IFSHC network, and operate analogous peer-reviewed journals, training, and awards programs.
• American Society for Matrix Biology (ASMB): A peer scientific society co-hosting meetings with HCS, including the 2023 Tissue, Matrix, and Pathobiology Joint Meeting and serving as the 2025 HCS Annual Meeting host. Both run scientific journals, awards programs, and annual conferences.

Regional players

• Japan Society for Histochemistry and Cytochemistry: A regional peer organization that has co-hosted joint meetings with HCS (e.g., 2006 Hawaii). Both organizations are part of the international histochemistry community and share subject matter focus and society structure.

Others

• International Federation of Societies for Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (IFSHC): An umbrella organization of which HCS is an affiliate member; IFSHC organizes the quadrennial International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (ICHC). Provides a coordinating governance layer across national histochemistry societies.
• FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology): The coalition of 30+ scientific societies of which HCS is a member society; not a direct competitor but a strategic ecosystem partner providing advocacy, mentoring, and professional development resources that materially extend HCS's capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/histochemnews
• Facebookfacebook.com/histochem
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-histochemical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Histochemical Society