Preclinical Imaging

ReDIB offers competitive open access to preclinical imaging services.

The CIC biomaGUNE Molecular and Functional Imaging Platform has two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI 7T and MRI 11.7T) devices, a PET-CT device, a multimodal PET-SPECT-CT-optical device, a Radiochemistry Laboratory, and a Cyclotron.

The Advanced Translational Imaging Infrastructure (TRIMA) has magnetic resonance imaging equipment (MRI 7T and MRI 3T) and hybrid PET-CT imaging equipment.

Bioimagen Complutense (BioImaC) offers users competitive open access to ReDIB, a low-field ICON 1T MRI machine, and a high-field 9.4T/30 cm hybrid imaging machine with cryoprobe and PET insert.

Imaging La Fe has a 3T MRI machine and a PET-MRI machine.

An advanced technique that simultaneously combines two different modalities: PET and MRI, representing the latest advance in medical imaging, both clinically and preclinically.

It allows simultaneous acquisition of metabolic information from PET and anatomical information from MRI.

It has significant advantages such as greater precision in locating areas of abnormal metabolic activity, excellent contrast in soft tissues (ideal for the brain, pelvis, heart, liver, and pediatric oncology), and advanced functional evaluation (allowing simultaneous study of metabolism, perfusion, diffusion, and structure).

Bruker BIOSPEC 94/30 with cryoprobe and PET insert

High-field magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy equipment acquired by BioImaC with funding from the European Union's NextGeneration funds.


This equipment has a magnetic field of 9.4 teslas, which allows both anatomical and functional MRI images to be obtained. It is possible to obtain in-vivo MRI spectra, MRI angiograms, perform cardiovascular studies, MRI relaxometry, etc.


Due to its modular design (gradient systems and RF coils of different sizes), it is optimized for all MRI applications.


It is equipped with CRIOSONDA, a cutting-edge technology that offers a 2.5 to 5.3 increase in sensitivity compared to standard RF coils at room temperature. This provides key anatomical and functional information for preclinical in vivo studies.


It also has a PET INSERT for simultaneous in vivo MR/PET imaging, which provides a unique view of molecular and functional processes by combining maximum PET sensitivity with multiparametric MR imaging.


The acquisition of this PET INSERT is part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and has been funded by MCIN/AEI and the European Union “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR.

Location: BioImaC

Instrumentation to conduct advanced imaging and spectroscopic experiments applied to biological samples including small rodents, samples or tissue extracts and cell cultures are available at all scientific nodes. The facilities provide the instrumentation and the expertise to carry out a wide range of MRI and MRS experiments, and are equipped with surgery rooms for animal preparation and implementation of surgical models. Ancillary equipment is also available: anesthesia systems, MRI-compatible physiological monitoring systems, infusion pumps, and temperature regulation systems.

Bruker ICON 1 Tesla

Low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment that allows in vivo and ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging.


It is a compact, high-performance MRI device that allows scientists with no experience in magnetic resonance imaging to access the potential of this technique and generate quantitative imaging results to answer biological questions in vivo.


MRI is a technique commonly used in clinical practice. As such, the results obtained with the ICON in rats and mice are fully scalable and translatable to humans, as many clinical applications, sequences, and approaches of clinical MRI can be performed on the ICON.


The ICON operates at a field strength of 1 Tesla. This is the most suitable field and frequency for imaging with gadolinium-based contrast agents, due to the nature of the relaxivity curves of these agents.

Location: BioImaC

MRI 11.7T/16 cm (117/16 USR)

High performance, 9 cm (750 mT/m) gradient; 4 broadband transmission channels and 8 parallel reception channels. Multi-nuclide, including 13C, 19F and 31P.

Location: CIC biomaGUNE

7T MRI Agilent-Varian

Equipped with two gradients, 21 cm with maximum strength 200 mT/m and a smaller with 12 cm and 400 mT/m maximum strength. 31 cm horizontal bore system.

Location: CNIC

3T RM equipment Philips Achieva TX (multi-transmission) release 5:

Equipment with 60 cm central tunnel where advanced MR acquisitions are carried out with the possibility of programming special pulse sequences. It has multiple coils for small and large animals, as well as volunteers and patients, with high spatial and temporal resolution.

Location: Imaging La Fe

MRI 7T/30 cm (70/30 USR)

Composed of two gradients, one of 20 cm (200 mT/m) and the high-field gradient of 12 cm (400 mT/m). Two 2 broadband transmission channels and 4 parallel reception channels.Location: CIC biomaGUNE

All scientific nodes provide hybrid imaging equipment. The Molecular and Functional Imaging Platform at CIC biomaGUNE has hybrid PET-CT and full ring SPECT-CT, the latter offering the possibility of multi-isotope studies with energy discrimination. The Infrastructure for Advanced Translational Imaging (TRIMA) offers hybrid PET-CT imaging. Both nodes are equipped with conditioned rooms for animal preparation and ancilliary equipment including anesthesia systems, physiological monitoring equipment, infusion pumps and temperature regulation systems.

MILabs VECtor7OICTHR (PET/SPECT/CT/OI)

The MILabs VECTor PET-SPECT-CT-OI is a fully integrated multimodal imaging platform that combines PET, SPECT, CT, and 2D Optical Imaging within a single compact system. It offers submillimeter PET and SPECT resolution, high-resolution CT (<50 μm), and an optical module for fluorescence, bioluminescence, and Cherenkov imaging with CT-based anatomical correction.


Uniquely, the system enables true multi-isotope imaging, including simultaneous PET/SPECT and PET/PET acquisitions (e.g., ¹⁸F and ⁸⁹Zr), capabilities unmatched by any other preclinical system. In addition, it supports cardiac and respiratory dual gating across PET, SPECT, and CT, allowing precise dynamic and functional studies.


Advanced reconstruction algorithms (MLEM, POSEM, SROSEM), DICOM and NIfTI export, and a dedicated GPU-based reconstruction server (36 TB) complete this versatile platform.

Location: CIC biomaGUNE

Trimodal PET-SPECT-CT Molecubes

Trimodal imaging system, PET, SPECT and CT – MOLECUBES γ, β and X-CUBES
These devices work separately thus allowing to obtain multimodal images simultaneously. It is composed of three independent modules:
•    γ-CUBE. SPECT equipment of high resolution and sensitivity that allows the obtaining of static images of full body of rats and mice.
•    β-CUBE. High-resolution, sensitivity PET equipment with a wide axial field of view of 13 cm in a bedding position, with which full-body dynamic acquisitions can be made.
•    X-CUBE. High-performance CT equipment that allows to obtain high-resolution anatomical images (50 μ m) of rats and mice in a short time.
Specific features of the system include: images of full-body mice and rats (PET, SPECT and CT); dynamic (PET) and static (PET and SPECT) studies; possibility of acquiring PET images synchronized with the heart rhythm of the cardiac animal gated imaging; possibility of acquiring CT images synchronized with the breathing of the animal respiratory gated imaging; possibility of acquiring PET images of up to four mice simultaneously; image reconstruction using the iterative 3DOSEM algorithm and scatter correction and CT image-based energy attenuation.

Location: CIC biomaGUNE, CNIC

ALBA-FLIM microscope

Custom-made system dedicated to fast acquisition of fluorescence lifetime images and phasor-FLIM analysis in live samples. The system is equipped with an inverted stand, a tuneable multiphoton laser, two PMTs and two APDs detectors, and a ISS Inc. fast‐FLIM card.

Location: CNIC

Ultra-fast multiline deconvolution microscope

A Leica SP8-Navigator confocal microscope for multidimensional 3D/4D/5D acquisition of samples also in vivo. The "Lightning" package allows the acquisition of higher resolution images by automatic settings and deconvolution. The "Navigator " package allows for easy navigation through samples in diverse sample holders and for the setting and acquisition of complex multidimensional captures.

Location: CNIC

Scanning Confocal microscope (Zeiss LSM 510)

High sensitivity with reduced background multicolor (up to 8 colors) imaging can be obtained at 3D reconstruction. Fitted with a module for FCS and FLIM for single molecule dynamics and interaction studies. Also FRAP and FRET analysis modules are available to study diffusion process and interactions at molecular level.

Location: CIC biomaGUNE

Confocal Microscope (Zeiss LSM 880)

It is a fluorescence confocal microscope fitted with: 405, Argon laser (458, 488, 514), DPSS 561, 590 and HeNE 633. FCS and FCCS measurements are carried out using GaASP and PMTr detectors for single fluorescence molecules detection and dynamic characterization. Microscope can be fitted with 2 inserts for live cell imaging for temperature and atmosphere control.

Location: CIC biomaGUNE

Leica Single Molecule Localization by Ground-State Depletion (dSTORM)

Flexible system based on standard immunostaining techniques that combine TIRF and epifluorescence with single molecule imaging (maximun resolution of 20 nm). Able to single molecules localisation in the x,y plane and in fixed cell samples.

Location: CNIC

Leica 3-Colour Fast Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscope DMI 6000

TIRF illumination for selective visualization of slim structures such as the cell membrane for studies of cell motility, protein aggregation or vesicle traffic. Resolution in Z direction reaches up to 70 nm.  

Location: CNIC

FMT Perkin Elmer

Quantifies a large number of biomarkers, mechanistic pathways and levels of translational therapeutic response. Operates in two "near infrared" channels and is compatible with standard anesthesia.

Location: CNIC

Liquid handling robot Tecan

The liquid handling workplace is connected to a cell culture incubator with a capacity of 110 plates (Freedom EVO , Tecan) and a carousel plate storage (up to 220 microplates). Includes a cell counter (Coulter) and seader (Multidrop, Thermo).

Location: CNIC

3D IVIS Perkin Elmer 200

High sensitivity and low noise level that allows visualization and monitoring of cellular and genetic activity in small animals (mainly mice) in vivo and in real time. Enables gene, cell or tissue labelling.

Location: CNIC

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