Preclinical Imaging Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Modality (Optical Imaging Systems, Nuclear Imaging Systems, Micro-MRI, Micro-ultrasound, Micro-CT, Photoacoustic Imaging Systems, Other), By Application (Research and Development, Drug Discovery), By End User (Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies, Academic & Research Institutes, Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 5.77 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.27%
Fastest Growing Segment	Photoacoustic Imaging Systems
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 8.31 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Preclinical Imaging Market will grow from USD 5.77 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.31 Billion by 2031 at a 6.27% CAGR. Preclinical imaging encompasses the visualization and quantification of physiological and pathological processes in small animal models, utilizing modalities such as MRI, CT, and PET to facilitate drug development and disease research. The market is primarily propelled by the increasing necessity for non-invasive longitudinal studies, which align with ethical mandates to reduce animal cohort sizes while improving the accuracy of translational data. Furthermore, the escalating volume of capital allocated toward pharmaceutical discovery, particularly in oncology and neurology, acts as a fundamental driver for the adoption of these in vivo observation technologies.

Despite the positive trajectory, the market encounters a significant challenge regarding the prohibitive acquisition and operational costs associated with high-resolution multi-modal instrumentation, which often restricts access for smaller research facilities. However, the broader financial ecosystem for life sciences remains robust, providing a stable foundation for technology procurement. According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, in 2025, the pharmaceutical sector invested an estimated €55 billion in research and development across Europe, underscoring the sustained capital flow that supports the demand for validation tools.

Key Market Drivers

Increasing Research and Development Expenditure in the Pharmaceutical Sector acts as a primary catalyst for the expansion of the preclinical imaging market. As drug discovery becomes increasingly complex, major pharmaceutical entities are channeling vast capital into early-stage validation to ensure molecule viability before entering human clinical trials. This surge in spending directly fuels the procurement of high-fidelity imaging instrumentation required for rigorous safety and efficacy testing. According to Fierce Biotech, March 2025, in the 'Top 10 pharma R&D budgets in 2024' report, Johnson & Johnson increased its research and development spending to approximately $17.1 billion, reflecting the aggressive investment strategies characterizing the sector. This financial commitment ensures a steady demand for the validation tools necessary to reduce attrition rates in the drug development pipeline.

The Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Driving Demand for Translational Research further solidifies the market's upward trajectory by necessitating more extensive animal model studies. The urgent need to understand pathological mechanisms in oncology, neurology, and cardiology impels research institutions to utilize non-invasive imaging for longitudinal monitoring of disease progression and treatment response. According to the American Cancer Society, January 2025, in the 'Cancer Facts & Figures 2025' report, it is projected that over 2 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States in 2025, underscoring the critical disease burden that drives accelerated therapeutic discovery. To support this intensive research ecosystem, leading instrument providers maintain massive operational scales; for instance, according to Bruker Corporation, November 2025, in the 'Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results', the company reported quarterly revenues of $860.5 million, highlighting the substantial commercial activity underpinning life sciences instrumentation.

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Key Market Challenges

The prohibitive acquisition and operational costs associated with high-resolution multi-modal instrumentation constitute a substantial barrier to the expansion of the global preclinical imaging market. These complex imaging systems require significant initial capital investment and substantial ongoing budgets for maintenance and specialized personnel, which disproportionately affects smaller research organizations and academic institutions with limited financial flexibility. When funding cycles contract or grant availability tightens, the ability of these entities to procure essential imaging technology is immediately curtailed, leading to deferred purchases and a reliance on older, less efficient modalities.

This financial strain is exacerbated by recent contractions in public funding, which serves as a critical revenue stream for equipment procurement. According to the Association of American Universities, in 2025, the volume of federal research awards declined sharply, with National Institutes of Health awards dropping by 29 percent compared to recent historical averages. Such a significant reduction in available capital directly impedes the market's growth potential by limiting the addressable customer base to only well-capitalized pharmaceutical entities, thereby stifling broader adoption rates across the scientific community.

Key Market Trends

Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Automated Image Analysis is fundamentally reshaping preclinical workflows by shifting the focus from qualitative observation to quantitative, high-throughput phenotyping. Unlike traditional manual interpretation, which is prone to variability, AI algorithms now enable the unbiased extraction of morphological features across massive datasets, effectively converting imaging into a primary screening modality for drug discovery. This shift towards industrialized biology is exemplified by companies like Recursion Pharmaceuticals, which leverages AI-enabled phenomics to decode biological maps and accelerate therapeutic validation. According to Recursion Pharmaceuticals, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results', the company reported full-year revenue of $58.8 million, reflecting the growing commercial traction of computational drug discovery platforms that rely heavily on automated, large-scale imaging datasets.

Convergence of Hybrid and Multimodal Imaging Platforms represents a critical technological evolution, enabling researchers to correlate functional molecular signals with precise anatomical structures within a single experimental session. This trend addresses the limitations of standalone modalities by integrating complimentary technologies, such as optical imaging with micro-CT or PET with MRI, to provide comprehensive physiological insights while reducing animal handling and anesthesia stress. Leading instrument manufacturers are aggressively expanding these hybrid portfolios to meet the complex data requirements of translational medicine. According to Revvity, January 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results', the company reported annual revenue of approximately $2.76 billion, a figure supported by its strategic focus on specialized diagnostics and life sciences solutions, including advanced multimodal systems like the IVIS SpectrumCT series.

Segmental Insights

The Photoacoustic Imaging Systems segment represents the fastest-growing category within the Global Preclinical Imaging Market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the technology's hybrid capability, which merges the high molecular contrast of optical methods with the deep tissue penetration and spatial resolution of ultrasound. Researchers increasingly prioritize this modality because it enables non-invasive, longitudinal assessment of anatomical and functional parameters, such as oxygen saturation, without the risks associated with ionizing radiation. Consequently, continued investment from organizations like the National Institutes of Health into oncology and drug development has further catalyzed the adoption of these systems for real-time physiological monitoring.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the Global Preclinical Imaging Market, driven by a mature research infrastructure and extensive investments from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. This leadership is sustained by the early adoption of advanced multi-modal imaging technologies which accelerate translational research. Furthermore, strong institutional support plays a critical role; the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides essential funding for biomedical innovation, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actively encourages the use of imaging biomarkers to streamline drug development processes. These combined factors create a highly favorable environment for market expansion in the region.

Recent Developments

• In September 2025, Revvity, Inc. launched its Living Image Synergy AI multimodal analysis software, a new solution aimed at transforming data interpretation for in-vivo imaging researchers. This platform unifies analysis across various modalities, including optical, microCT, and ultrasound, to reduce inconsistencies and streamline workflows. By integrating artificial intelligence, the software is designed to enhance reproducibility and increase throughput, providing scientists with greater confidence in their findings. The Vice President of Platforms at the company emphasized that this tool helps eliminate the limitations of using separate imaging tools, allowing researchers to correlate datasets within a single, centralized platform to accelerate scientific discovery.
• In June 2025, Fujifilm VisualSonics Inc. introduced the Vevo F2 LAZR-X20, a multimodal photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging platform developed specifically for preclinical research. This innovative system integrates high-powered, intelligent laser technology to provide advanced tissue characterization with high anatomical accuracy. Operating within a wavelength range of 660–1320 nm, the platform enables the non-invasive detection of tissue chromophores like lipids and collagen. The Vice President of Global High Frequency at the company stated that this technology expands the scope of scientific questions that can be addressed, particularly in oncology and neurobiology, by seamlessly merging photoacoustics with ultrasound imaging.
• In August 2024, Mediso Medical Imaging Systems launched the nanoScan PET/CT 122S, a new preclinical imaging system designed for high precision and versatility. The scanner features a high resolution of 0.7 mm and a large field of view, which allows for the simultaneous imaging of up to four mice or two rats, significantly increasing experimental throughput. This system was notably installed at a major molecular imaging facility to support multidisciplinary research. The new platform facilitates advanced studies in areas such as tumor marker identification, Alzheimer’s disease progression, and metabolic imaging, marking a significant upgrade in preclinical capabilities for the research community.
• In February 2024, Bruker Corporation announced the acquisition of Spectral Instruments Imaging LLC, a company recognized for its preclinical in-vivo optical imaging systems. This strategic move was designed to bridge a gap in the technology portfolio of Bruker's BioSpin Preclinical Imaging division, thereby broadening its array of solutions available for disease research. The acquired entity is known for its advanced technology in co-registered bioluminescence, fluorescence, and X-ray preclinical imaging. The President of Bruker's Preclinical Imaging division noted that the addition of these optical imaging modalities would complement their existing offerings and better serve the diverse needs of researchers studying biological disease processes.

Key Market Players

• Aspect Imaging Ltd
• Bruker Corporation
• Fujifilm Holdings Corporation
• Mediso Ltd
• MR Solutions Ltd
• PerkinElmer Inc.
• United Imaging Healthcare Co. Ltd
• AXT PTY LTD
• Advanced Molecular Vision, Inc.
• IVIM Technology Corp

By Modality	By Application	By End User	By Region
Optical Imaging Systems Nuclear Imaging Systems Micro-MRI Micro-ultrasound Micro-CT Photoacoustic Imaging Systems Other	Research and Development Drug Discovery	Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies Academic & Research Institutes Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Preclinical Imaging Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Preclinical Imaging Market, By Modality:

• Optical Imaging Systems
• Nuclear Imaging Systems
• Micro-MRI
• Micro-ultrasound
• Micro-CT
• Photoacoustic Imaging Systems
• Other

• Preclinical Imaging Market, By Application:

• Research and Development
• Drug Discovery

• Preclinical Imaging Market, By End User:

• Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies
• Academic & Research Institutes
• Others

• Preclinical Imaging Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE