Preclinical neuroimaging: an overview

Preclinical applications in neuroradiology are rapidly growing. This work briefly reviews the aims, methods and research fields in which preclinical neuroradiology units are involved. Specifically we will describe applications in pharmacological research, transgenic animals phenotyping, stem cell imaging and molecular imaging. The interdisciplinary approach, typical of preclinical neuroradiology, appears to be useful also in the training of young neuroradiologists.