Imaging plays a pivotal role in both preclinical and clinical research, offering benefits that significantly impact disease understanding and patient care. One key advantage is the early detection of diseases, allowing timely intervention and improved treatment outcomes. The non-invasive nature of imaging techniques is important because it enables the characterization of tissues and organs without subjecting patients or animals to invasive procedures, thereby minimizing discomfort and reducing the risk of complications.

Imaging also contributes to the monitoring of disease progression over time, offering insights into molecular and cellular changes. This capability is crucial for preclinical studies and clinical trials, in which continuous observation is essential. In clinical research, imaging is a vital tool for assessing treatment responses, guiding adjustments to therapeutic interventions, and contributing to the development of targeted and personalized therapies. Imaging is instrumental in preclinical drug development, offering insights into drug pharmacokinetics, distribution, efficacy, disease modelling, and longitudinal studies.

The purpose of the LUCC-Breast network is to:

• serve as a collaborative communication platform and channel for researchers in the field of cancer.
• assist researchers in making decisions about selecting the most suitable imaging modality to address specific scientific inquiries.
• position imaging at the core to facilitate collaboration among various research domains.
• enhance the current understanding of imaging, novel methodologies, and emerging imaging devices.
• facilitate greater collaboration between preclinical and clinical imaging experts.