Preclinical molecular imaging has become an essential tool in translational research with animal models of multiple human diseases. The great interest achieved lies in the fact that current clinical imaging techniques such as PET, SPECT, CT, and MRI are also available for use in preclinical models, providing similar image quality despite using animals as small as mice and rats. Thus, the same quantitative molecular imaging biomarkers can be proposed to be used from very early preclinical research with animals to clinical trials in patients. Nevertheless, the use of preclinical molecular imaging is still reduced due to the lack of efficient and standardized methods for extracting accurate imaging biomarkers for each particular disease model. The current challenges in translational molecular imaging are to define appropriate molecular imaging biomarkers for each disease that can be used for the follow-up of new treatments from the small animal model to the patient.

The main focus of this special issue will be on recent advances in molecular imaging biomarkers in small animal models. In particular, we take an interest in manuscripts that report biomarkers derived from preclinical imaging that can be directly transferred to clinical trials such as those biomarkers derived from PET, SPECT, CT, and MRI. This special issue accepts original research articles as well as review articles describing the state of the art about a particular disease model.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Imaging biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases models
• Biomarkers in preclinical cancer imaging
• Imaging of inflammation and infection biomarkers
• Imaging biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases
• Endocrinology and metabolism imaging biomarkers