Steve Meikle School of Medical Radiation Sciences, University of Sydney Principles, Applications and Challenges of Small Animal Molecular Imaging Wednesday 1st September 14:05-14:55pm, Carslaw Lecture Theatre 273. The relatively new field of non-invasive small animal imaging (also called molecular imaging) has evolved from the convergence of two main areas of endeavour: (i) advances in high resolution radiation detectors and imaging systems (and associated image reconstruction methodology) and (ii) rapid progress in the field of transgenic animal models of disease. A wide range of biological properties of these animal models can be imaged using various non-invasive imaging modalities to investigate disease processes at the molecular level and evaluate novel therapeutic approaches. Such a facility is being established within the Brain and Mind Research Institute supported by the technical expertise of the School of Medical Radiation Sciences. This talk will focus on the radionuclide techniques of positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission tomography (SPECT) and their applications in small animal imaging. Current challenges will be discussed with a particular emphasis on areas where novel solutions to linear inverse problems (e.g. image reconstruction and system design) may play an important role in further advancing the field.