Pioneering Ethical Alternatives

VICT3R’s central innovation is the introduction of Virtual Control Groups (VCGs), whichleverage advanced statistical methods and artificial intelligence (AI) toreplace the need for live animals in control groups used in toxicology studies.Typically, toxicology research involves three treatment groups and one controlgroup, with the control group serving as the baseline for comparison. Byutilizing decades of historical control data, VICT3R aims to eliminate the needfor live animals in control groups, achieving up to a 25% reduction in animaluse across studies. This groundbreaking approach aligns with the global 3Rsprinciples: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement.

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“Data reuse and data sharing, as well as the application of AI approaches, engender great opportunities for implementing the 3Rs principles in the use of animals in preclinical research”.

Prof. Ferran Sanz, UPF, Project Coordinator.

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A Collaborative and Multidisciplinary Effort

This groundbreaking project is led by Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF, Spain) and Bayer AG (Germany), with the support of a diverse consortium of 33 partners from 12 countries. By uniting expertise from academia, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and technology sectors, the partnership fosters a truly interdisciplinary approach to advancing ethical research.

Spanish partners play a pivotal role in VICT3R, contributing expertise across multiple domains:

• Project Coordination: Led by Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF).
• Project Management, Dissemination, and Sustainability: Overseen by SYNAPSE.
• Natural Language Processing: Handled by MedBioinformatics Solutions SL (MBIS).
• Artificial Intelligence Solutions: Led by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC).

Together, these contributions position VICT3R as a leader intransforming toxicology research through collaboration and cutting-edgeinnovation.

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"At SYNAPSE, we are proud to contribute to the coordination and sustainability of VICT3R. By fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders and ensuring the effective communication and dissemination of results, we aim to drive the successful implementation of Virtual Control Groups and set the foundation for ethical and innovative practices in toxicology research that will endure well beyond the project’s duration.”

Inari Soininen, SYNAPSE, VICT3R Project Manager.

Main Objectives

At its core, VICT3R seeks to develop a robust database of historical control animal data to serve as the foundation for VCGs. Building on the groundwork laid by the eTRANSAFE project, VICT3R will refine the VCG concept to ensure its validity, reproducibility, and acceptance in safety assessment. The main goals of the project are:

• Building a high-quality database of historical control animal data.
• Creating and validating VCGs for use in repeated dose toxicity (RDT) and other study types.
• Ensuring compliance with international quality standards and OECD.
• Promoting the acceptance and adoption of VCGs by regulators, industry, and other stakeholders.
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“The VICT3R consortium is equipped with the expertise and capability to change the regulatory paradigm in nonclinical safety testing. By implementing Virtual Control Groups, we can significantly reduce animal use, delivering both ethical value and economic benefits”.

Thomas Steger-Hartmann, Bayer AG, Project Industry Lead.

A Vision for the Future

VICT3R represents a paradigm shift in toxicology, combining AI, data science, and innovative toxicological practices to create more ethical and sustainable research frameworks. By engaging with regulatory agencies, animal welfare groups, and the broader scientific community, the project aims to ensure wide acceptance and implementation of VCGs.

Stay informed on VICT3R's journey as it sets new standards in toxicology research and reduces reliance on animal testing, paving the way for a more ethical future.

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