This time, in Minds Behind VICT3R we are pleased to share an insightful interview with the project industry lead, Dr. Thomas Steger-Hartmann (Bayer). Beyond being one of the key minds behind VICT3R and the development of the Virtual Control Group (VCG) concept, Thomas has also been a driving force behind the EMA Qualification Opinion recently launched for public consultation.
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
In our latest Minds Behind VICT3R , we’re featuring Prof. Emerita Vera Rogiers, member of the VICT3R Scientific and Regulatory Advisory Board (SRAB). Vera has spent her career advancing alternatives to animal testing, first as the leader of the In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetic Sciences group at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and more recently on the regulatory side, advising the European Commission as co-chair of
In our latest Minds Behind VICT3R , we’re catching up with Karolina Kopańska from CAATevents. Karolina co-Leads VICT3R WP8, dedicated to the retrospective and prospective testing supporting the qualification of the Virtual Control Group (VCG) concept. She also coordinates the VICT3R Regulatory Interaction Task Force (RITF), which drives VICT3R’s engagement with policymakers and regulators worldwide.
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.
In our latest Minds Behind VICT3R , we’re catching up with Heinz Schwerdtfeger from Syncwork Ag, who leads the project WP9. Heinz and his team are making sure that the tools developed in VICT3R are properly validated and meet Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards − using what’s known as Computer System Validation (CSV).
We’re excited to present the latest edition of Minds Behind VICT3R, featuring Nadège Le Roux (Bristol Myers Squibb) – expert in Regulatory Sciences and Policy and a key contributor to VICT3R’s regulatory strategy. With a strong background in regulatory science, Nadège brings valuable insight into how innovative methods like Virtual Control Groups (VCGs) can be integrated into future safety assessments.
This project is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) under grant agreement No 101172693.
The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and COCIR, EFPIA, Europa Bío, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe and Instem Scientific Limited.
Funded by the European Union, the private members, and those contributing partners of the IHI JU. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the aforementioned parties. Neither of the aforementioned parties can be held responsible for them.
© 2026 | VICT3R – Developing and implementing Virtual Control Groups to reduce animal use in Toxicology Research
