Open AccessFrom anatomy to the target: Contributions of magnetic resonance imaging to preclinical pharmaceutical research
Author(s) -
Beckmann Nicolau,
Mueggler Thomas,
Allegrini Peter Roland,
Laurent Didier,
Rudin Markus
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the anatomical record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0185
pISSN - 0003-276X
DOI - 10.1002/ar.1059
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , preclinical research , drug discovery , drug development , medical physics , medicine , exploit , drug , computer science , neuroscience , radiology , bioinformatics , psychology , pharmacology , biology , computer security
In recent years, in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) methods have become established tools in the drug discovery and development process. In this article, the role of MR imaging (MRI) in the preclinical evaluation of drugs in animal models of diseases is illustrated on the basis of selected examples. The individual sections are devoted to applications of anatomic, physiologic, and “molecular” imaging providing, respectively, structural‐morphological, functional, and target‐specific information. The impact of these developments upon clinical drug evaluation is also briefly addressed. The main advantages of MRI are versatility, allowing a comprehensive characterization of a disease state and of the corresponding drug intervention; high spatial resolution; and noninvasiveness, enabling repeated measurements. Successful applications in drug discovery exploit one or several of these aspects. Additionally, MRI is contributing to strengthen the link between preclinical and clinical drug research. Anat Rec (New Anat) 265:85–100, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.