On 3 December 2019, Prof Lies Geris contributed to the roundtable hosted at the European Parliament in Brussels aimed at defining concrete steps for a transition to animal-free science.
The event "Strategies for Innovation in Life Sciences" was held in the European Parliament, hosted by Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP, and co-organised by the Finnish Presidency and Eurogroup for Animals.
The event started with an exhibition opening and roundtable discussion that was held at the European Parliament, Brussels on 3 December from 12h30 until 17h30. This event on innovation, at the beginning of this new political term, aims to create an open forum to discuss how the EU and its member states can promote innovation through concrete scientific policies and funding opportunities.
Under the Finnish Presidency’s ambitious vision for research and development with a high impact on people’s lives, this event has brought together innovators from academia, industry and organisations, politicians, and policy makers to discuss possible targets and concrete steps that both Commission and national governments can support in the next legislative term and beyond to promote innovation in life sciences while reducing the use of animals in science.
VPHi director Liesbet Geris was invited to discuss the ongoing work in the in silico community. A short testimonial can be found here: https://twitter.com/Act4AnimalsEU/status/1201539348715495424
PROGRAMME:
Exhibition opening (ASP building, 3rd floor, Bar Area 3D)
12h30: Welcome by Moderator, Reineke Hameleers, Eurogroup for Animals
Opening of the exhibition: Jari Partanen - State Secretary, Finland Various MEPs
13h00: Tour of the exhibition and media moment
Conference on "Strategies for innovation in life sciences" (ASP building, Room A1H1)
13h30: networking lunch with speakers
14h00: Opening of the Conference, LuĂsa Bastos (Eurogroup for Animals), Jari Partanen (State Secretary, Finland)
First panel
14h25: Life sciences consuming less animal lives – a strategy for innovation!, Thomas Hartung, Director Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing
14h45: Systematic approach brings the best outcome in the paradigm change from animal biology-based testing strategy to human cellular models and tests based testing strategy, Tuula Heinonen, Director Finnish Centre for Alternative Methods
Second panel
15h05: Innovations in life science education and training and the feasibility of full replacement, Nick Jukes, Coordinator InterNICHE
15h25: In silico modeling in healthcare: of virtual physiological mice and men, Liesbet Geris, Director Virtual Physiological Human Institute (VPHi)
Third panel
15h45: From ´Organ-on-Chip´ to ´Patienton-Chip´ – addressing unprecedented animal welfare potential and unexpected patient benefit, Uwe Marx, TissUse
16h05: Non-Animal Models in Science: Challenges & Future Directions, Laura Gribaldo, Scientific Officer Joint Research Centre - European Commission
16h25: Panel discussion
17h30: Closing
Full information on the event can be found here
