The ASPIS Open Symposium 2025 in Athens (17–18 September) brought together scientists, regulators, and stakeholders to explore the future of animal-free chemical safety testing. Now, you can revisit the atmosphere and insights from both days through two recap videos featuring voices from across the cluster.
Day 1: Integration, progress, and shared goals
On the first day, Joseph Shaw (PrecisionTox researcher, Indiana University Bloomington) and Bob van de Water (RISK-HUNT3R coordinator, Leiden University) reflected on the importance of ASPIS as a collaborative platform.
For Joe, the Symposium underscored the value of coming together in person:
“Being here and seeing exactly where all the projects are is extremely helpful… so we can all collectively come together and, through our three projects, move toward a safer chemical world.”
Bob highlighted the need for implementation and regulatory engagement:
“This last year will really be very important to make that next step, to get feedback from OECD and build confidence from regulators that the ASPIS framework is truly working.”
Day 2: Progress, sustainability, and impact
The closing day featured reflections from Mathieu Vinken (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), ASPIS Cluster Coordinator (2024–2026) and ONTOX coordinator. He pointed to clear progress in NAM innovations across the three consortia while reminding the community of the work ahead:
“We are on the right path, but we need to fully focus on sustainability – not only of the concepts, but of the tools, data, and knowledge. It would be a pity if all this evaporated at the end of ASPIS.”
Mathieu also underlined the importance of broader societal and educational impact: from regulatory advances to the achievements of the ASPIS Academy.
