VICT3R: Virtually Speaking Webinar Series – Conversations Driving Change in Safety Science

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.

Across 12 sessions we covered SEND data standards, in vivo study design, study reproducibility, GLP and Computer System Validation (CSV), data curation and quality control, AI-driven approaches, and use of the VICT3R data lake. The series was well attended, with a peak of close to 180 participants in a single session.

We extender a warm thank you to our speakers for sharing their insights and sparking great discussions!

Recordings of the open sessions are available on the dedicated Training section of our website: VICT3R Training.

A broader, fully open series starting September 2025

Virtually Speaking is a core part of VICT3R’s training programme. The second edition launches in September 2025 and will run through spring 2026. This new series broadens the conversation to cross-cutting themes in toxicology, safety science, and experimental data sharing and reuse. All webinars will be open to the public and will feature external experts from related initiatives and scientific domains, alongside VICT3R voices.

Opening mini-series with HWA

We’re starting the new series with a three-part mini-series, developed in collaboration with Humane World for Animals (HWA), on “Overcoming Societal, Cultural, and Regulatory Barriers to Virtual Control Group Adoption”.

 

We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Colleen Pike and Dr. Jan Turner from HWA, along with Dr. Thomas Steger-Hartmann (VICT3R Project Lead, Bayer AG), who will lead us through the following sessions:

• 9 September – 14:00 CEST
  What really holds back the adoption of new approaches in safety testing? We’ll look at why progress depends not only on science, but also on mindsets, institutions, and collaboration across sectors.

• 7 October – 14:00 CEST
  How can regulatory systems adapt to innovation? Using vaccine testing as a case study, we’ll explore how collaboration and harmonization can transform regulatory practice.
  

• 21 October – 14:00 CEST
  What barriers stand in the way of adopting Virtual Control Groups? We’ll discuss challenges for industry and CROs and practical strategies to overcome them.

How to join

Registration links and further information for each session will be posted on the VICT3R LinkedIn page and recordings will be made available afterwards on VICT3R Training.

We look forward to continuing the conversation this autumn!