Preclinical Imaging Market Size To Reach $1.6 Billion By 2033

September 2025 | Report Format: Electronic (PDF)

Preclinical Imaging Market Growth & Trends

The global preclinical imaging market size is estimated to reach USD 1.6 billion by 2033, registering to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2025 to 2033, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Heavy investments in research and development are encouraging research projects worldwide. As a result, the demand for preclinical imaging is steadily increasing. Pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, life sciences, medical devices, and cosmetics are wide application areas, where imaging modalities are widely used in research and development. Furthermore, veterinary hospitals and educational institutions also create an additional demand for this market.

Nuclear medicine techniques (primarily, positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)), optical imaging, micro-computed tomography (CT), micro magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Photoacoustic tomography (PAT), and ultrasound are the most suitable modalities for small-animal in vivo imaging applications. Each modality has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. The multimodality devices designed to give complementary information on the pathophysiological process under research have rapidly gained popularity, seeking to overcome the inherent limits of each imaging modality. The combination of high-resolution modalities such as micro-CT and micro-MRI with highly sensitive techniques that provide functional information like micro-PET or micro-SPECT is expected to broaden the horizons of research in key areas like infection, oncology, cardiology, and neurology, contributing not only to the understanding of disease underlying mechanisms but also providing efficient and unique tools for evaluating new chemical entities and candidate drugs, thus boosting the global market growth.

The global market's prominent competitors are undertaking different initiatives for enhancing their product portfolio with novel product launches and enhancing their manufacturing capacity. For instance, In February 2023, at the 75th National Conference of the Indian Radiological and Imaging Association, FUJIFILM India announced the development of its equipment and service offerings. The company demonstrated cutting-edge diagnostic tools at the event in Amritsar from February 2–5, 2023. The recently released MRI machine APERTO Lucent Non DICOM printer APEOS and the ultrasound devices Arietta 650 DeepInsight and Arietta 850 DeepInsight are all components of the new portfolio. A smartphone application for assistance and guidance called "FUJIFILM Connect" was additionally released by the company.

Moreover, the advancements in the high-throughput ultrasound imaging system used in the application of cancer research and studies boost the market. In April 2022, the Vega imaging system, a handheld ultrasound system with fully automated technology and high-throughput capacity, which can speed up non-invasive clinical research and drug discovery in the fields of cancer, kidney and liver disease, and heart disease, was launched by PerkinElmer as an aspect of the company's announcement of a broadening of its live image analysis. The use of non-invasive imaging methods is encouraged since they reduce the need for invasive operations while minimizing animals' discomfort to a minimum. Preclinical imaging techniques have been adopted as a result of this ethical consideration.

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Preclinical Imaging Market Report Highlights

In 2024, the modality segment dominated the preclinical imaging market, driven by innovations transforming disease modeling and drug discovery in small animals.
In 2024, the disease mechanism and pathophysiology studies segment held the largest market share, reflecting the growing role of preclinical imaging in understanding complex diseases across oncology, cardiology, neurology, immunology, and infectious diseases.
The pharma and biotech companies segment captured the largest market share in 2024. The demand for pre-clinical imaging in biotech companies has been steadily increasing in recent years and is expected to continue growing in the coming years.
North America preclinical imaging market held the largest share in 2024. This dominance is driven by the region’s robust R&D infrastructure, substantial investments from pharmaceutical companies, and government funding supporting advanced imaging technologies.

Preclinical Imaging Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global preclinical imaging market on the basis of type, application, end use and region:

Preclinical Imaging Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2021 - 2033)

Modality
- Optical Imaging (BLI & F)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Ultrasound Imaging (US)
- Photoacoustic Imaging (PAI)
- Hybrid Imaging Systems
  - Bi-Modal
    - SPECT-CT
    - PET-CT
    - SPECT-PET
    - PET-MRI
    - Optical-CT
    - Others
  - Tri-Modal
    - PET-SPECT-CT
    - PET-SPECT-MRI
    - PET-CT-Optical
    - Others
- Others
Reagent
Service

Preclinical Imaging Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2021 - 2033)

Drug Discovery & Development
Toxicology & Pharmacokinetics Studies
Basic & Translational Research
Disease Mechanism & Pathophysiology Studies
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology & Inflammation
- Others
Biomarker & Imaging Agent Validation
Others