Preclinical imaging
Preclinical Imaging
Preclinical imaging (pronunciation: pre-klin-i-kal im-aging) is a branch of medical imaging that involves the visualization of living organisms for research purposes, particularly in the field of drug development.
Etymology
The term "preclinical" is derived from the prefix "pre-" meaning "before" and "clinical" referring to patient care. Thus, "preclinical" refers to the research conducted before the clinical phase, typically involving animal models. "Imaging" comes from the verb "to image," which means to represent or mirror something visually.
Definition
Preclinical imaging involves the use of non-invasive procedures to visualize and track biological processes at the cellular and molecular level within live organisms. This field plays a crucial role in the development of drugs and therapies, allowing researchers to study disease progression and response to treatment in real-time.
Techniques
Various imaging techniques are used in preclinical imaging, including:
- MRI: A technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues within the body.
- PET: A type of nuclear medicine imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive materials to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases.
- CT: A diagnostic imaging test used to create detailed images of internal organs, bones, soft tissue and blood vessels.
- Ultrasound: A method of producing images of the inside of the body using high-frequency sound waves.
Applications
Preclinical imaging is used in various fields of biomedical research, including:
- Cancer research: Preclinical imaging is used to study tumor growth, metastasis, and response to therapy.
- Neurological research: It is used to study brain function and disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
- Cardiovascular research: Preclinical imaging is used to study heart function and diseases such as atherosclerosis and heart failure.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Preclinical imaging
- Wikipedia's article - Preclinical imaging
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