Current x-ray imaging is of critical for clinical and pre-clinical applications but it is fundamentally restricted by the attenuation mechanism. X-ray grating-based imaging represents outstanding opportunities and major challenges, especially for tomography utilizing the wave nature of x-rays for superior tissue contrast at minimal radiation dose. Our general hypothesis is that 2D grating-based imaging can be developed to produce better projective/ and tomographic images of biomedical interest than 1D grating-based techniques. The overall goal is to develop the first of its kind 2D-grating-based imaging system for mouse and breast imaging.