Translational Molecular Imaging in Drug Development: Current Status and Challenges

Molecular imaging is the visualization, characterization, and measurement of biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels in humans and other living systems. In the past decade, there has been sufficient experience with specifically targeted therapeutic or diagnostic imaging agents that we must begin moving them from bench to bedside. However, crucial prerequisites for the development of safe pre-clinical protocols in molecular imaging research are needed through suitable large animal models since most of previous experiments were carried out on rodents. This review is focus on the translational molecular imaging research on drug development and radiopharmaceutical drug development, animal model selection, experimental design, the obstacle and future challenges of translational molecular imaging.