These are some of the more notable ways that antibodies are used in research: 

• To identify unknown molecules such as specific proteins in diseased cells at different phases of their life cycle
• To understand different biochemical pathways
• In various diagnostic assays such as identifying allergies, detecting infections, and measuring hormones in blood samples 
• In various cancer-related research including but not limited to the study of proliferative signaling, inflammation, metabolism, autophagy, metastasis, tumor suppressors, and apoptosis
• To study changes in T-cells and B-cells during their development
• In several laboratory techniques such as flow cytometry, electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), radioimmunoassay (RIA), and western blot among others
• To deliver a cytokine, radioisotope, toxin, and other active conjugates