Press release

Published: 17 February 2026

Doctors Against Animal Experiments present new NATworks database

 The latest webinar hosted by the renowned Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Baltimore, USA, on animal-free, human-relevant research methods attracted significant international attention. Doctors Against Animal Experiments (DAAE) also participated in the event. A total of 142 participants from 34 countries attended the online webinar, including representatives from U.S. regulatory authorities. A recording of the event is now publicly available.

The webinar, entitled “Discover NATworks,” was CAAT’s first 3R training webinar of 2026 and was moderated by Dr. Kathrin Herrmann, Director of Education at CAAT. The focus was on the new NATworks platform—an international company database for Non-Animal Technologies (NATs) and other New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)—developed by DAAE and launched in November 2025. Representing DAAE, Scientific Officer and graduate biologist Julia Radzwill took part in the webinar. As project coordinator of NATworks, she presented the goals, structure, and benefits of the database.

“NATworks was developed to significantly simplify the search for suitable animal-free, human-based methods,” Radzwill explained. “The platform provides a concise overview of companies, their technologies, services, and areas of expertise—both globally and through regional filters.”

Although still a young database, NATworks already lists more than 400 companies from fields such as biomedical research, safety and toxicity testing, and innovation, with the number of entries continuing to grow. The strong response to the webinar highlights the substantial demand for orientation and networking in the field of animal-free research.

In addition to introducing NATworks, the webinar featured company presentations by the German firms MPSlabs, Vitrocell, TissUse, and InnoVitro, as well as the Australian company Tessara Therapeutics. These companies operate in areas including organ-on-chip technologies, in vitro exposure systems, digital twins, and human-based cardiac and brain models. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion and a live Q&A session with all speakers.

Participants came from academia, industry, contract research organizations, regulatory authorities, non-governmental organizations, and the next generation of scientists. The webinar was aimed at anyone interested in implementing new animal-free methods, advancing research and development projects, building collaborations, or pursuing a career in human-relevant methodologies.

“The high level of international participation and the very positive feedback clearly show that NATworks meets a real need,” said Julia Radzwill. “The participation of staff from U.S. regulatory agencies in particular underscores the growing importance of animal-free, human-relevant methods at the regulatory level as well.”

With this webinar, DAAE tested a new event format that is planned to be further developed into a dedicated webinar series. The concept combines an introduction to the NATworks database with presentations by innovative companies and can be adapted to different thematic focuses in the future—for example, country-specific editions, discipline-focused topics such as neurology or cardiology, or formats dedicated to supporting early-career scientists. The series is internationally oriented and will continue, with another webinar already scheduled for May 2026. Through formats such as this webinar series, DAAE continues its commitment to making modern, animal-free research more visible and actively advancing its adoption.

* 3R stands for “Reduction,” “Refinement,” and “Replacement,” i.e., reduction, refinement, and replacement of animal testing.