Figure 2. Molecular imaging in the development of new treatments, biomarkers, and vaccines for TB.

Molecular imaging can be implemented in the various stages of clinical trials, from early-stage studies to patient screening, randomization, and monitoring of treatment response and outcomes (e.g., relapse), to improve the efficiency and accuracy of TB clinical trials. Additionally, the full spectrum of molecular imaging, including optical imaging and ex vivo techniques, can be employed in preclinical studies. The use of molecular imaging across species allows for crosstalk between preclinical and clinical studies and important collaborative, translational research.