News

The VICT3R project has reached an important milestone in the qualification of the Virtual Control Group (VCG) concept. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a Qualification Opinion on VICT3R Context of Use I, which focuses on the application of VCGs in dose-range finding (DRF) non-GLP repeated dose toxicity rat studies. The Qualification Opinion, adopted by the EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use

Collaboration lies at the heart of the VICT3R project. Bringing together data scientists, software and computer system validation experts, industry partners, and regulators is essential to tackle the complex challenge the project addresses: developing Virtual Control Groups (VCGs) that could one day replace concurrent control groups in animal studies. On 26–27 February 2026, the VICT3R consortium met in Barcelona for its 4th Consortium Meeting and

We are proud to announce the expansion of the VICT3R consortium with the addition of new beneficiaries joining the project and organisations joining the VICT3R Associated Contract Research Organisation (CRO) Network. This growing network of organisations strengthens our mission to transform the way safety is evaluated in drug and chemical development by reducing reliance on laboratory animals. The newly joined beneficiaries include first-line industry partners

The VICT3R consortium met in Barcelona on 29–30 September 2025 for its 3rd Consortium Meeting and General Assembly, marking the successful close of the project’s first year. With 67 participants attending in-person and another 60 joining online, the event brought together nearly 130 partners and collaborators from academia, industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, and members of the project’s Scientific and Regulatory Advisory Board to reflect

VICT3R launched the first edition of its Virtually Speaking webinar series in early 2025, bringing together experts to discuss key topics relevant to VICT3R, shaping the future of toxicology and safety science. The series, which ran from January to July, combined open webinars for the broader community with closed sessions for the consortium, where we explored how to apply the concepts directly to project work.

We are pleased to announce that the VICT3R project has been featured in the latest episode of the Lab of Tomorrow video interview series by Eurogroup for Animals. This initiative highlights scientists who are actively working to phase out the use of animals in the regulatory assessment of drugs and other chemicals. In this new episode, Ferran Sanz (Project Coordinator, Universitat Pompeu Fabra) and Thomas

What happens when you bring together over 120 scientists, data experts, and regulatory minds - some gathered in a conference room in Barcelona, others dialling in from around the world? You get two days filled with progress, open debate, and a shared determination to make Virtual Control Groups (VCGs) a reality. At its core, VICT3R is tackling a complex challenge: replacing concurrent control groups in

We are excited to announce the launch of the VICT3R Website, which is now live! This updated website is a key resource for the VICT3R community, featuring comprehensive details about the project, our goals, publications, the latest news, and training resources. It will be the central hub for all project-related information and updates. As coordinators of our project, we would like to take this opportunity

We’re proud to announce that VICT3R is presented today at the 2nd Commission Conference on the Roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessments held in Brussels. Hosted by the European Commission, this event brings together leading experts with the aim to accelerate the shift toward animal-free safety assessments, guided by the 3Rs – Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. The Commission’s 3Rs Roadmap is

The VICT3R project kicked off with an inspiring meeting in Barcelona on 26-27 September 2024! With over 70 attendees in person and more than 50 joining online, the enthusiasm and commitment to this transformative project were palpable. From the outset, participants engaged in meaningful discussions and brought forward exciting proposals, setting a positive and proactive tone for the project's journey ahead. What made this meeting