The Impact of PET Imaging on Translational Medicine: Insights from Large-Animal Disease Models.

Large-animal models are playing a pivotal role in bridging the translational research gap. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is preferred in disease research involving large-animal models. Its ability to non-invasively monitor metabolic activity, receptor-ligand interactions, and pharmacokinetics in real time makes PET imaging an essential tool for evaluating therapeutic efficacy and advancing the development of targeted treatments. This review focuses on recent advancements in dedicated large-animal PET scanners, the utilization of large-animal models for simulating human diseases, and their applications in PET studies. It specifically highlights the critical role of PET imaging in facilitating the development of more effective and safer treatments for infections, chronic heart disease, diabetes, cancer, central nervous system disorders, and addiction, emphasizing its importance in the translational research landscape.