Molecular Imaging: From Bench to Clinic
1Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2Molecular Imaging and Therapy Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
3Department of Medical Ultrasound, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China
4Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
5NMR and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
Molecular Imaging: From Bench to Clinic
Description
Molecular imaging is the visualization, characterization, and measurement of biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels in humans and other living systems. Its key utilization is in the interrogation of biologic processes in the cells of a living subject in order to report on and reveal their molecular abnormalities that form the basis of disease. This is in contrast to the classical form of diagnostic imaging where documented findings show the end effects of these molecular alterations typically via well-established gross pathology. Molecular imaging itself encompasses a new imaging paradigm that includes multiple image-capture techniques, cell/molecular biology, chemistry, pharmacology, medical physics, biomathematics, and bioinformatics. This ability to image fine molecular changes opens up exciting possibilities for medical application, including early detection and treatment of disease and basic pharmaceutical development. Molecular imaging is expected to have a major economic impact due to earlier and more precise diagnosis for various diseases. New paths in fundamental research, as well as in applied and industrial research, render the task of scientists more complex and increase the demands on them. This special issue will serve both the scientific and clinical communities by disseminating novel results and concepts relevant to the biological study of normal and disease processes in both basic and translational studies ranging from animals to humans. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Development and testing of novel molecular imaging agents
- Advanced techniques in molecular imaging that elucidate molecular and cellular mechanisms of normal and disease processes
- Clinical studies involving various molecular imaging modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and ultrasound
- Development of imaging hardware, quantitative modeling, and animal model systems supporting targeted imaging approaches
Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/bmri/molecular.imaging/mtbc/ according to the following timetable: