Cellular gene therapy is an emerging therapeutic strategy for the treatment of many diseases states including cancer. Therapeutic efficacy is dependent on targeted homing, and localisation of the infused cells. Nevertheless, cell fate remains ambiguous following infusion. There is an unmet need for the development of strategies for monitoring genetically engineered therapeutic cells. Nuclear reporter gene imaging is a non invasive and translatable approach that facilitates the sequential, longitudinal and whole body imaging of the distribution of labeled cells. A variety of reporter genes including the human norepinephrine transporter have been developed for tracking cells in the peripheral system. Nonetheless, imaging gene expression in the primary central nervous system is limited by the lack of adequate reporter genes and complimentary single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) radiosubstrates that can cross an intact blood brain barrier. SPECT/PET reporter systems for visualising reporter cells in the brain are required for evaluating the efficacy of tumour specific therapeutic cells in brain immunotherapy. The aim of this research is to develop reporter cell imaging strategies for imaging cells in the peripheral and central nervous system that may in turn support cell based therapy trials. Current genetic reporters for detecting peripherally administered cells will be optimised and novel reporter systems for visualising cells in the primary central nervous system will be proposed.