1 Title Page Automated neuromelanin imaging as a diagnostic biomarker for Parkinson’s disease Gabriel Castellanos, MD, MSc, 1,3 María A. Fernández-Seara, PhD, 1,3 Oswaldo Lorenzo-Betancor, MD, PhD, 2,3 Sara Ortega-Cubero, MD, 2,3 Marc Puigvert, BS, 6 Javier Uranga, BS, 4 Marta Vidorreta, PhD, 1 Jaione Irigoyen, MSc, 1,2,3,5 Elena Lorenzo, BS, 2 Arrate Muñoz-Barrutia, PhD, 4,7 Carlos Ortiz-de- Solorzano, PhD, 4 Pau Pastor, MD, PhD, 2,3,5,6 María A. Pastor, MD, PhD. 1,3,5 * 1 Neuroimaging Laboratory, 2 Neurogenetics Laboratory and 4 Cancer Imaging Laboratory, Centre for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain 3 CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain 5 Department of Neurology and 6 Pulmonary Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra School of Medicine, Pamplona, Spain 6 Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari Mutua de Terrassa, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain 7 Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering Department, University Carlos III of Madrid and Gregorio Marañon Health Research Institute, Madrid, Spain. Both authors MAP and PP contributed equally to the study. *Correspondence to: María A. Pastor MD, PhD. Centre for Applied Medical Research. University of Navarra. Pio XII, 55, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. Phone: + 34 948 194700 ext 2013. E-mail: mapastor@unav.es