Life Webinar | NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) as Alternatives to Animal Experiments, 16 November 2026
The field of toxicology is undergoing a major transformation, driven by scientific advances and the growing need for more predictive, human-relevant, and innovative approaches to chemical safety assessment. New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are at the forefront of this transformation, offering new opportunities to rethink how we investigate biological responses, predict potential adverse effects, and support the assessment of chemical safety.
This webinar will explore the evolving landscape of NAMs, highlighting the diversity of approaches currently being developed and their potential to shape the future of toxicology. From mechanistic methods that improve our understanding of chemical–biological interactions to advanced in vitro models that better reproduce human physiology, these innovations are opening new avenues towards more informative and scientifically robust safety assessments.
Through three complementary presentations, our speakers will address key aspects of this rapidly advancing field. We will explore the transition from traditional toxicology towards a new paradigm, examine how chemical reactivity can contribute to more meaningful predictions of skin sensitization, and discover how microphysiological systems and organ-on-chip technologies are helping to recreate the complexity of human tissues in the laboratory.
By bringing together these perspectives, the webinar aims to provide a broader understanding of the opportunities offered by NAMs, the scientific principles underpinning their development, and the challenges that must be addressed to support their wider adoption.
Whether you are a researcher, toxicologist, regulatory scientist, industry professional, or simply interested in the future of chemical safety assessment, this webinar will offer an opportunity to discover emerging approaches, explore new scientific directions, and reflect on how NAMs are helping to shape the next generation of toxicological assessment.
Date: 16 November 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CET | 9:00 a.m. EDT
Landing page: https://sciforum.net/event/LIFE-7
Register now for free!
Program:
| Speaker/Presentation | Time in CET | Time in EDT |
| Prof. Dr. Maria Pilar Vinardell (Chair) Chair Introduction |
3:00–3:10 p.m. | 9:00–9:10 a.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Montse Mitjans Arnal New Approach Methodologies (NA.M.s): From Traditional Toxicology to a New Paradigm |
3:10–3:30 p.m. | 9:10–9:30 a.m. |
| Dr. Argel Islas-Robles From Simple Methods to Meaningful Predictions: The Role of Chemical Reactivity in Skin Sensitization Assessment |
3:30–3:50 p.m. | 9:30–9:50 a.m. |
| Dr. Ignacio Ochoa Recreating human tissue complexity with microphysiological systems and organ-on-chip microdevices |
3:50–4:10 p.m. | 9:50–10:10 a.m. |
| Q&A Session | 4:10–4:25 p.m. | 10:10–10:25 a.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Maria Pilar Vinardell Closing of Webinar |
4:25–4:30 p.m. | 10:25–10:30 a.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the workshop. Registrations using academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Maria Pilar Vinardell, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain;
- Prof. Dr. Montse Mitjans Arnal, Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- Dr. Argel Islas-Robles, Institute for In Vitro Sciences, Inc., 30 W Watkins Mill Road #100, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA;
- Dr. Ignacio Ochoa, 1 Tissue Microenvironment Lab (TME), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain Institute for Health Research Aragon (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; 2 Biomedical Research Networking center in Bioengineering.