Large European Grant Awarded to Use AI to Reduce Animal Testing

VUB toxicology professor Mathieu Vinken is part of a major European research project aimed at reducing animal testing through the use of artificial intelligence. The project, known as VICT3R, has a total budget of €279 million and is funded by the European Commission and the pharmaceutical industry. Vinken has been allocated a budget of €637,250, which he will use to explore whether virtual control groups (VCGs) can be used to test various drugs or other substances.

The VICT3R project (Developing and Implementing Virtual Control Groups to Reduce Animal Use) seeks to replace animals in control groups during non-clinical trials with virtual alternatives. These VCGs are created using AI and statistical methods, with researchers drawing on historical data from control animals, collected over decades by the pharmaceutical industry and academic institutions. By harnessing this technology effectively, VICT3R aims to make a significant contribution to ethically responsible scientific research without compromising the reliability and accuracy of the results.

The project is coordinated by Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona and will run over three years. Its goal is to gather and analyse large datasets from control animals across various types of studies, resulting in a high-quality database. This database will be accessible not only to VICT3R partners but also to policymakers and legislators, who can use it to further develop and promote the acceptance of virtual control groups in toxicological research.

In addition to his research, VUB professor Mathieu Vinken is focusing on raising the profile of the VICT3R project, promoting international collaboration, and securing legal acceptance of these methods. VICT3R not only aims to advance ethically responsible research practices but also seeks to strengthen international cooperation in toxicological research and regulation​.