Small Animal Imaging

Research in neuroscience now relies heavily on animal MRI/MRS where in many instances it has now been established as the gold standard. Other major applications areas include cardiovascular, respiratory and gastro-intestinal studies together with research into arthritis, oncology and metabolic disorders. Over the past decades magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have shown enormous utility for research applications in the life sciences. Functional MRI (fMRI) is probably the most spectacular application and as yet has still to be fully exploited, especially by neuroscientists. The latest developments in molecular biology and genome research have recently led to an expansion in the use of animal MRI/MRS applications. Molecular imaging and rapid phenotyping of transgenic animals are two such applications that have extended the role of MRI/MRS in pharmacology.