NAMs Network
This network aims to bring together all individuals interested in the field of alternative methods to animals for scientific purposes (in vitro, in silico, etc.): researchers, engineers, industrialists, regulators and institutions. The idea is to create a broad network to foster dialogue between key players, share important information, generate new collaborations and gather solid scientific data to validate and promote alternative methods to animal experimentation.
Main objectives of the network
- Building links and dialogue across private, public and regulatory sectors
- Gather expertise, essential information and data (strengthening scientific evidence)
- Promoting new collaborations and events, as well as funding opportunities and resource mobilization
- Training and educating the scientific community on NAMs
Tools
A Linkedin group
With more than 430 members (from industry, biotech, academia, etc, and different regions of the world), it was launched for daily / regular interactions and information sharing ; moderated by Pro Anima.
Monthly Live Talks
This year, we are setting up a series of Live talks on NAMs. The idea is to take 1h every month to freely discuss on a burning topic related to NAMs with the members of the network and external guests.
If you want to contribute to the framing of the next sessions, kindly contact us.
Next session
The next session will take place in September or October 2026.
Previous sessions
Session 5: Advancing Women’s Health Through NAMs — June 24th, 3:00 – 4:00 pm (CET)
Women’s health has historically been underrepresented in biomedical and clinical research, with important implications for how we understand disease, assess safety, and develop effective treatments. We now know that biological sex can influence disease mechanisms, responses to medicines, and susceptibility to adverse effects. Yet many traditional preclinical models do not adequately capture the complexity of female physiology, limiting their ability to generate truly representative evidence. Against this backdrop, New Approach Methodologies, or NAMs, are opening new possibilities by enabling more human-relevant and sex-specific models that can improve both scientific understanding and health outcomes.
The discussion explored how these innovative approaches, especially organ-on-chip technologies, can help address long-standing gaps in women’s health research and contribute to more inclusive and predictive science.
Guest: Dr. Zohreh Izadifar, Assistant Professor, Boston Children’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School; Research Scholar, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University
Dr. Zohreh Izadifar is an Assistant Professor at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and a Research Scholar at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. Her work brings together bioengineering, biomaterials, microbiology, and medical science to develop human tissue constructs and Organ-on-Chip models for reproductive and urogenital health research. She previously led the development of the first preclinical human Cervix Chip model at the Wyss Institute and the next generation multifunctional sensor-integrated Organ Chip platform. Her research has been recognized through more than 30 publications and over 25 awards and honors. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Izadifar is committed to advancing translational innovation and serves as one of the leads in Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Society, helping connect academia, industry, and policy to accelerate biomedical progress.
NB: Due to technical difficulties, our guest was unable to turn on her camera. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Session 4: Europe in Transition — Scaling Human-Relevant Research Through NAMs, May 27th, NEW TIME: 01:30 – 02:30 PM (CET)
The fourth NAMs Live Talks session explored how breakthroughs in non-animal methodologies (NAMs) can move from research to real-world adoption, with a focus on organoid technology and implementation frameworks. Hans Clevers highlighted the origins and applications of organoids in drug development, disease modeling, and personalized medicine. Daniela Salvatori presented Ambion, a €125 million Dutch initiative supporting animal-free biomedical translation.
Key challenges discussed included the lack of standardized organoid protocols, regulatory readiness, industry trust, and education. A centralized, living repository of validated organoid protocols accessible to academia and industry was proposed as a practical step toward regulatory acceptance. Participants also emphasized that validation frameworks must be co-developed with regulators and industry to ensure relevance and adoption. Europe has strong scientific leadership in organoid technology but risks losing momentum due to fragmented funding, regulatory burden, and limited coordinated infrastructure investment, while China and the US accelerate large-scale implementation efforts. Models such as Ambion — public-private partnerships designed to bridge innovation and application — were highlighted as important frameworks to replicate across Europe.
Guest: Prof Hans Clevers, Utrecht University
Hans Clevers, MD, PhD is Professor of Molecular Genetics at Utrecht University and a leading figure in stem cell biology. He identified key effectors of the Wnt signaling pathway (TCF transcription factors) and discovered LGR5 as a marker of adult stem cells, advancing understanding of intestinal biology and cancer. He later pioneered organoid technology — 3D in vitro models that closely mimic human organs — transforming biomedical research.
He trained at Utrecht University and has held major leadership roles, including directing the Hubrecht Institute and serving as president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also led Pharma Research & Early Development at Roche, where he helped establish the Institute of Human Biology in Basel. He continues to oversee research groups at the Hubrecht Institute and the Princess Máxima Center.
Clevers has received numerous international honors, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, and is a member of several prestigious academies worldwide.
Facilitator: Prof Daniel Salvatori, Ombion Center for Animal-free Biomedical Translation
Daniela is Professor of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology at Utrecht University and head of its Anatomy and Physiology division. She chairs the Transition to Animal-Free Innovation (TPI) Utrecht initiative and is interim director of the OMBION Center for Animal-free Biomedical Translation.
Her work spans stem cell safety and disease modeling, alongside the development of advanced training tools such as 3D, virtual reality, and holographic models through the Center of Excellence in Plastination and Virtual Reality. She is actively advancing the transition toward human-relevant, animal-free approaches in biomedical research and education.
Session 3: How to mitigate the socio-technical barriers to the uptake of NAMs?, April 20th 1pm-2pm (CET)
In this session, we explored the key barriers to the adoption of NAMs and identify practical ways to overcome them. Laura Holden will present insights from the PrecisionTox study, highlighting technical, institutional, and cultural challenges, while Love Hansell will guide the discussion and help uncover overlooked barriers.
Through live polls, structured dialogue, and audience Q&A, we tempted to examine where these barriers arise, why stakeholders disagree, and what realistic steps can accelerate adoption. The session concluded with this takeaway: the complexity is real and needs to be embraced and discussed broadly if we want a chance to move foward and mitigate some barriers.
Guest: Laura Holden, University of Birmingham
Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham, specialising in environmental law and regulatory change. A former UK regulator and advisor to Defra, she works on biodegradation of polymers, environmental mixtures, and regulatory acceptance of AI within PARC, NAMWISE, and PrecisionTox.
Co-host & Facilitator: Love Hansell, Radboud University
PhD student in social sciences specialising in political science at the Radboud University at Nijmegen School of Management, analyses the institutional and social dynamics that influence the adoption of NAMs. As a contributor to the communication and dissemination strategy for NAMs, his interdisciplinary perspective is essential to understanding the non-technical barriers and drivers of the transition.
Session 2: Where are we with NAMs, and why? – A US perspective, March 5th 4pm-5pm (CET)
Guest: Dr Daniel Levner, Co-Founder & CTO at Emulate Inc.
Daniel is the Chief Technology Officer at Emulate. A serial deep-tech entrepreneur, Levner co-founded Emulate and brings to it extensive experience in biological and engineering technology development and commercialization. Levner joined the Emulate founding team during his role as a Senior Staff Scientist with the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. There, he led the advanced engineering team responsible for developing the Emulate Organ-Chip platform and played a key leadership role formulating innovative approaches for bridging biologists, engineers and business stakeholders. Daniel received his PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University as well as an MS in aeronautics and astronautics, also from Stanford. He has authored numerous publications and more than 70 issued and pending US patents. Q&A: you can submit questions ahead on the registration form below.
Facilitator: Dr. Zaher Nahle, CHE & Ivyctory Solutions
Zaher Nahle is an interdisciplinary executive scientist with senior leadership experience across biomedical research, academia, and public policy, including roles as Chief Scientific Officer, Vice President for Research, and CEO at major U.S. medical foundations. He earned his PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from the Stony Brook University/Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory joint program, his Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University, and his certificate in Public Policy and Management from Harvard Kennedy School, where he was a Mason Fellow. A former faculty member at Vanderbilt and Cornell, he has published extensively in leading journals and pioneered high-throughput technologies such as gene microarrays. He currently serves as Senior Scientific Advisor to the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action and is the founder of the IVYCTORY Group.
Session 1: Introducing the NAMs Network and the Live Talks Series — February 4th, 12 – 1pm (CET)
An event interface
To not miss any upcoming event on NAMs.
Contact
Dr Lilas Courtot
