Development of high-resolution ex vivo single-photon and positron emission tomography

Molecular imaging aims for the visualisation, characterisation, and quantification of biological processes in humans and other living systems at the molecular and cellular level. For today’s patient care, molecular imaging allows for (early) detection and characterisation of disease, efficient planning and assessment of treatments, and contributes to improved patient care in ten-thousand clinics across the globe. In clinical molecular imaging, planar scintigraphy, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET) are among the most commonly used modalities. This thesis focuses on preclinical SPECT and PET, which are applied to image small animals such as mice and rats in basic and translational research.