New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are transforming how biomedical research and safety testing are done, but they are often discussed as a full “replacement” for animal research. In practice, NAMs cover a wide range of tools (advanced in vitro systems, organoids, organ-on-chip, computational modelling and human data approaches) that can reduce, refine, and, in a few times, replace animal use—while also creating new questions about safety, validation, interpretation and regulatory acceptance. 

This third edition of the EARA webinar series builds on the success of our previous sessions—first bringing patient communities into direct dialogue with researchers, and most recently highlighting the essential role of veterinarians in animal research. 

In this webinar, we bring together a mixed panel working across three realities: people working exclusively with NAMs, people combining NAMs and animal studies and people working primarily with animal research. Through this discussion, we aim to explore what can and cannot do today, where combinations add value and what this means for good science, animal welfare and public understanding. 

We are confident this event will help audiences move beyond the “either/or” narrative and better understand how different research approaches must work together to advance science and medicine. 

This event is online only. Registration is free but mandatory. A certificate of attendance will be issued after the webinar.

15:00–15:05 Kirk Leech (EARA, UK)

15:05–15:15 Magdalena Lorenowicz (Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Netherlands)

15:15–15:25 Miguel Prudêncio (Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Portugal)

15:25–15:35 Walter Westerink (Charles River Laboratories, Netherlands)

15:35–15:45 Sonja Beken (Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Belgium)

15:45–16:30 Panel discussion and Q&A (moderated by Nuno Miguel Gonçalves, EARA)