Firefly BioWorks, Inc. (Cambridge, MA) provides custom multiplex microRNA-detection panels for rapid profiling of diverse biological samples. MicroRNAs regulate the expression of at least half of all human genes, and several have been linked to certain cancers both at the diagnostic and prognostic level. The Firefly advantage lies in its patented hydrogel microparticles, simple protocol, and universal readout. Hydrogel microparticles allow for target molecules to diffuse into a three-dimensional scaffold, increasing the number of target molecules that bind and resulting in more signal than competing technologies. Assay readout is accomplished with standard benchtop cytometers and is readily adapted for readout on imaging platforms. Current products focus on microRNA, but the Firefly assay has demonstrated similar advantages for protein detection.