Gearing Up for the Forthcoming 13th World Congress (WC13), August 31 – September 4, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro

The 13th World Congress (WC13) on Alternatives to Animal Use in Life Sciences is coming up soon, taking place August 31 – September 4, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro. This year’s theme, 3Rs Integrating 3 Worlds: Human, Animal, and Environmental Health, reflects the evolving landscape of toxicology within which new approach methodologies (NAMs) are beginning to reshape the future of regulatory science.

WC13 represents more than a scientific meeting—it’s a platform for collaboration, learning, and progress. With sessions on generative AI in toxicology, developmental and reproductive toxicology (DART), skin sensitization, and next-generation risk assessment (NGRA), the event will highlight the transformative potential of NAMs across a wide spectrum of applications.

I will be attending the meeting again this year and am especially looking forward to Session #75: Updates to OECD Guidance Document 34 on the Validation of Test Methods and Defined Approaches, taking place on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, which will spotlight advancements in NAMs as replacements for traditional animal testing methods. During this session, one presentation to watch is A Call to Action: Advancing New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in Regulatory Toxicology Through a Unified Framework for Validation and Acceptance (Presentation #154) co-authored by me and Gladys Ouédraogo (Senior Scientific Officer), Nathalie Alépée (Scientific Officer, Alternative Methods), and Bambou Tan (Scientific Communications Manager, R&I) from L’Oréal Research & Innovation. This talk will be delivered by Gladys, who will outline a global vision for harmonizing the validation and regulatory acceptance of NAMs.

If you are attending the conference, I encourage you to attend Session #75 to learn more about overcoming one of the central, global challenges in toxicology today, ensuring human safety without relying on animal testing through a unified, cross-sector framework grounded in measurable quality standards and transparent data sharing.

You can read more about this initiative in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology (doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2025.105904).

I am looking forward to connecting with colleagues, partners, and fellow advocates for the 3Rs. If you’ll be in Rio, let’s connect! Feel free to reach out to me to schedule a time to meet during the congress, clive@ropertcl.com

For more on WC13, visit: www.wc13rio.org

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