The global clinical trial imaging market was estimated at USD 1.23 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach approximately USD 1.91 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8% from 2025 to 2030. The market is witnessing steady growth due to the increasing demand for advanced medical imaging technologies in the research and development of new therapeutics across a variety of disease areas. As the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors continue to evolve and invest heavily in innovation, clinical trial imaging is becoming an essential component of drug development and medical device validation.

Medical imaging provides critical information throughout the clinical trial process, enabling researchers and clinicians to observe treatment effects, monitor disease progression, and verify the safety and efficacy of new therapies. It supports precise measurement of biological responses and clinical endpoints, making it a valuable tool in regulated trials for conditions such as cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.

Despite the dynamic and often cost-intensive nature of the medical imaging industry, the biotech and pharmaceutical industries have shown sustained and growing demand for clinical trial imaging services. This demand is further supported by a growing number of investments, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions, where major companies are acquiring imaging technology firms or forming alliances to integrate cutting-edge imaging solutions into their clinical research portfolios. These strategic movements aim to improve trial accuracy, efficiency, and regulatory compliance, ultimately accelerating the approval of new drugs and medical devices.

Key Market Trends & Insights:

• North America led the global clinical trial imaging market in 2024, accounting for the largest regional share of 47.93%. The region’s dominance is fueled by its robust healthcare infrastructure, early adoption of advanced imaging technologies, and the presence of major pharmaceutical companies and academic research institutions that frequently conduct clinical trials.
• The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate at a CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period. This rapid expansion is attributed to increasing healthcare investments, growing pharmaceutical and biotech R&D activities, and the rising presence of contract research organizations (CROs) in countries such as China, India, and South Korea.
• From a technology perspective, the Computed Tomography (CT) scan segment dominated the market in 2024, securing the highest share at 25.87%.
• The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 8.7% from 2025 to 2030. MRI is increasingly preferred in neurological and musculoskeletal trials due to its superior soft-tissue contrast and lack of ionizing radiation, positioning it as a valuable tool in long-term and repeated imaging studies.
• By therapeutic area, the oncology segment captured the largest market share of 23.63% in 2024, reflecting the continued global focus on cancer research and the frequent use of imaging to track tumor size, metastasis, and treatment response.
• The neurovascular diseases segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 8.8%, due to rising awareness, improved diagnostic capabilities, and the growing number of neurological drug candidates under development, which increasingly rely on imaging for efficacy and safety evaluations.
• Among service types, reading and analytical services accounted for the largest share at 30.95% in 2024 and are expected to continue growing at a CAGR of 8.4%.
• In terms of end users, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies held the largest share of 28.7% in 2024. Meanwhile, the Contract Research Organizations (CROs) segment is projected to grow significantly at a CAGR of 8.5%, reflecting the increasing outsourcing of clinical trial imaging tasks to specialized providers who offer both cost advantages and technical expertise.

Order a free sample PDF of the Clinical Trial Imaging Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

Market Size & Forecast:

• 2024 Market Size: USD 1.23 Billion
• 2030 Projected Market Size: USD 1.91 Billion
• CAGR (2025-2030): 7.8%
• North America: Largest market in 2024
• Asia Pacific: Fastest growing market

Key Companies & Market Share Insights:

To strengthen their presence in the global clinical trial imaging market, several key players are focusing on strategic expansions, partnerships, and acquisitions aimed at entering new geographic regions and accessing advanced technologies. Companies are actively forming collaborations with research institutions, healthcare organizations, and academic medical centers to validate their technologies in real-world clinical settings, improve product efficacy, and enhance patient care outcomes.

For example, in September 2023, GE HealthCare announced a strategic partnership with Mayo Clinic, a globally recognized healthcare and research organization. This collaboration focuses on advancing innovation in medical imaging and the agnostics a growing field that combines diagnostics with targeted therapy. The goal of this partnership is to develop new imaging-based solutions that can transform clinical diagnostics and improve the precision and personalization of treatment approaches.

Key Players

• IXICO plc
• Navitas Life Sciences
• Resonance Health
• ProScan Imaging
• Radiant Sage LLC
• Medpace
• Biomedical Systems Corp
• Cardiovascular Imaging Technologies
• Intrinsic Imaging
• BioTelemetry

Explore Horizon Databook – The world's most expansive market intelligence platform developed by Grand View Research.

Conclusion:

The global clinical trial imaging market is poised for significant growth, driven by expanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors and increasing reliance on advanced imaging for drug development. With North America leading and Asia Pacific showing the fastest growth, the market is bolstered by technological advancements, rising R&D investments, and strategic collaborations. Imaging modalities like CT and MRI, along with services such as analytical reading, are key contributors to this growth, making clinical imaging a critical component of modern clinical trials.