Scientist Mathieu Vinken coordinates prestigious European research into animal-free methods for testing chemical substances

Mathieu Vinken, pharmacist-toxicologist affiliated with the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences of the VUB, will be responsible for the general coordination of the “ONTOX? project for a period of 5 years from 1 May 2021 onwards. The “ONTOX? project, supported by a European grant of more than 17 million Euros, is looking with 18 European and American partners for innovative methods to evaluate the safety of chemical substances without using laboratory animals.

Before chemicals, such as pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetic ingredients and pesticides, can be placed onto the market, they must first undergo rigorous testing to ensure their safety. ...