This service carries out Nuclear Medicine studies on in vivo experimental animals. This service is intended to combine the use of functional and structural imaging with the production of probes from their chemical precursors for multimodal imaging.

It has a radiochemical laboratory for the synthesis of radiotracers and a brain molecular imaging laboratory equipped with SPECT/CT (single photon emission computerized tomography), currently in operation at the Cajal Institute (IC), as well as 9-11 tesla high-field MRI equipment for brain imaging in rodents. Fluorescence tomography equipment is also provided for in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence imaging. In addition, new applications may be developed at the request of researchers. The service also includes synthesis of probes for medical imaging:

• Radiochemical laboratory. This laboratory focuses on the synthesis and labelling of biomolecules for nuclear imaging experiments, both for SPECT and PET. The range of radioisotopes includes those most widely used in nuclear imaging, especially radiometals applied to antibodies, proteins and small molecules. In addition to a portfolio of basic services, the laboratory offers the synthesis of specific radiotracers for neuroimaging applications.
• Cold probe laboratory. This laboratory is for the synthesis and bioconjugation of biomolecules for imaging, including incorporation of fluorophores into proteins or ligands and labelling of antibodies with biotin. The service includes the labelling of biomolecules with fluorophores for optical imaging (labelling of antibodies with biotin), nanoparticles for resonance imaging and other types of bioconjugation of interest. The service includes a catalogue of basic probes in addition to the synthesis of specific radiotracers for neuroimaging.