The research activity of the Laboratory of Imaging for small animals covers Emission Tomography based molecular Imaging, from radiopharmaceutical development to preclinical as well as clinical application. The group has expertise in radiolabelling with C-11, F-18 and Ga-68 including methods and procedures required according to EU rules. In addition, the group has developed methods and strategies for positron emitters metals isotopes binding, as Cu-64 and Zr-89. A larger number of radiopharmaceuticals has been already validated and applied at preclinical and clinical levels for the study of brain neurotransmission systems (serotonin, dopamine, benzodiazepine receptors, opiate receptors), amyloid plaques, activated microglia cells and for the in vivo imaging of biochemical pathways involved in cancer (choline kinase activity, cell proliferation, regional tissue hypoxia, glucose metabolism). The main fields of application are CNS diseases, inflammation and cancer and most of research activities are carried out in close collaboration between preclinical and clinical researchers.