The 3Rs Framework for Intelligent Use of In Vitro, In Vivo, and NAMs

26-Feb-2026

Animal models remain important in biomedical research, but their use must evolve alongside scientific and ethical advances. This meeting focuses on refinement, one of the principles within the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) framework for animal experimentation, through the strategic use of advanced in vitro New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).

By shifting exploratory, mechanistic, and screening studies to in vitro systems such as organoids and microphysiological models, animal experiments can be refined in scope and severity. In vitro NAMs enable better experimental prioritization and more targeted in vivo studies, ensuring that animal use is limited to questions that cannot be addressed otherwise.

Through selected case studies, this event highlights how integrating in vitro NAMs with in vivo research refines animal use while strengthening scientific rigor and translational relevance.

DATE: February 26, 2026
SCHEDULE: 8:30am-5:00pm
LOCATION: MMM auditorium, NOVA Medical School - Rua Câmara Pestana 6, 1150-082 Lisboa

Program

MORNING

08:30am | Registration
09:00am | Opening session - Paula Macedo, Vice-Dean for Research, NOVA Medical School, Portugal
09:05am | "Animal research and NAMs: where are we heading?" - Nuno Miguel Gonçalves, EARA
09:30am | "Bridging Rodent Models and Human Brain Organoids to Study Neurodevelopmental Disorders" - João Peça, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal
09:55am | "HaPILLness - RDefining oral dosing in experimental rodents" - Sofia Viana, ESTSC, Coimbra, Portugal

10:25am | Coffee Break

11:30am | Keynote Speaker - André Rosa, Department of Microphysiological Systems, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Tübingen, Germany
12:00pm | Short selected Talk 1
12:15pm | Short selected Talk 2
12:30pm | Short selected Talk 3
12:45pm | Short selected Talk 4

01:00pm | Lunch Break

AFTERNOON

Gabriela Silva (MPS_NOVA), João Conde (HubP2C), Ana Isabel Moura Santos (ORBEA), Ricardo Henriques (ITQB), Jorge Carneiro (ITQB), and moderation by Anna Olson (i3S)

04:50 | Closing Session

Registrations / Abstract Submissions

Deadline for Registrations: 19/02/2026
Deadline for Abstracts Submissions: 05/02/2026
Abstract acceptance notifications: 15/02/2026

To register fill the form available here: form for registrations

To submit your abstract fill the Word file and send it to mariana.pereira@nms.unl.pt: form for abstract submissions

Organizing Committee

This event is co-organized by the HubP2C and MPS_NOVA.
The Pre-Clinical-to-Clinical Innovation Hub (HubP2C) is an innovative platform of NOVA Medical School that aims to accelerate the transfer of scientific discoveries into healthcare solutions, from the pre-clinical stage to the clinical stage, reducing the time and risks of healthcare innovation.
MPS_NOVA is a EU TWINNING project led by the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB NOVA) in collaboration with NOVA Medical School, both part of the NOVA University of Lisbon. MPS_NOVA aims to establish a European Hub of Excellence in Microphysiological Systems (MPS) fuelled by pluripotent stem cell technologies to strengthen NOVA's research and innovation capacity.