Alternative non-animal methods in biomedical research
Course description: New approach methodologies (NAMs), comprising in vitro and in silico approaches, aim at adding an advanced mechanistical understanding in biomedical research. These methods support the 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) and have gained increasing importance following regulatory changes, including the European Union’s Directive 2010/63/EU, which promotes the reduction of animal experimentation and the FDA’s decision to no longer require animal testing prior to certain human drug trials. This course will provide postgraduate and doctoral students with a comprehensive overview of NAMs applied in biomedical research, pharmaceutical industry, toxicology testing, and regulatory decision making. The course will cover advanced human-relevant in vitro models such as organoids and organ-on-chip systems, and in silico approaches, including systems biology, machine learning, and AI-based tools for disease modelling and drug discovery. Recent technological developments and scientific findings arising from NAMs will be presented as well as approaches for their regulatory acceptance, and hands-on educational initiatives. Speakers from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies will present their work and discuss how experimental, computational, and AI-driven approaches can be integrated to improve translational relevance and regulatory decision-making. Students will have the opportunity to engage in informal discussions with invited speakers and visit a local biomedical research company to gain practical insights into the implementation of NAMs in industry.
Credit points: 1-2 (1 ECTS for attendance at lectures; 2 ECTS for attendance at lectures and a written report)
Course director: Šárka Lehtonen (UEF / A.I. Virtanen Institute), Board member of Finnish 3R for replacement
Course co-organizers: Stefanie Klima (UEF / A.I. Virtanen Institute), Katja Sirviö (Ferring Ventures Oy)
Venue: University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus, Snellmania building, room SN201, Yliopistonranta 8, Kuopio
Registration: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/684FA91C5AB8CC75 by 10th August 2026
DAY 1. (25.8.2026)
08.30 – 09.00 Registration
09.00 – 09.15 Welcome Šárka Lehtonen, University of Eastern Finland
SESSION 1: Education and Basic Science
09.15 – 10.00 Advancing microphysiological systems adoption through targeted education and training formats Pauline Jeckel, University of Tubingen
10.00 – 10.30 NAMs in toxicological testing Nadine Dreser, University of Konstanz
10.30 – 10.50 Break and exhibition
10.50 – 11.20 Chips to omics: microtechnology for tissue-chips and ultra-sensitive diagnostics Prateek Singh, Finnadvance & Proteins1
11.20 – 11.50 Novel animal-free hydrogels for investigating human breast cancer Johanna Englund, University of Helsinki
11.50 – 13.00 Lunch (at own cost) and exhibition
SESSION 2: Regulatory Bodies and Computational Modelling / AI
13.00 – 13.15 Introduction of Fin3R Vassileios Stratoulias, University of Helsinki
13.15 – 13.45 TBA
13.45 – 14.00 Sponsored talk
14.00 – 14.30 Coffee and exhibition
14.30 – 15.00 Use of alternative methods in medicines development – a regulatory view Jaana Palomäki, FIMEA
15.00 – 15.30 Predicting bioactivity via modeling: fact and fiction Antti Poso, University of Eastern Finland & University of Tubingen
15.30 – 16.15 Panel discussion
DAY 2. (26.8.2026)
SESSION 3: Companies
09.00 – 09.30 AI in Drug Development at Pharma: Overview of strategy, applications, and scientific impact Melina Malinen, Orion Pharma
09.30 – 10.00 From World-Class Research to Real-World Patient Impact at Scale Noora Hujala, Solid IO
10.00 – 10.30 Break and exhibition
10.30 – 11.00 Non-animal methods in pre-clinical drug development Jussi Rytkonen, IQVIA Laboratories Finland
11.00 – 11.30 From bench to patient: leveraging patient-derived ex vivo models for preclinical efficacy assessment Olga Gurvich, Ferring Ventures Oy
11.30 – 12.00 Refinement in the models that we do not currently have an alternative in vitro model Anni Tenhunen, Experimentica Ltd
12.00 – 12.15 Wrapping up the course Šárka Lehtonen, University of Eastern Finland
12.15 – 13.00 Lunch (at own cost) and exhibition
SESSION 4: Company visit
13.00 – 16.00 Visit to Ferring Ventures Oy and Experimentica Ltd
2 x 45 min 12 students each Katja Sirviö (CMC Manager (Pharm & Manufacturing of ATMP)) and Ritva Tumelius (Senior scientist)
