ECEAE at EUROoCS 2026: Supporting the next generation of animal-free researchers and connecting the NAM community
- News
The EUROoCS 2026 Annual Meeting in Braga, Portugal, brought together experts advancing organ-on-chip and microphysiological systems research. ECEAE proudly participated, awarding three travel grants to early-career researchers – Joe Davis Velchev, Oksana Savchak, and Michael Fiore – who showcased their animal-free science through oral presentations and posters. Alongside the conference, ECEAE introduced NATworks, a collaborative platform connecting non-animal methods (NAM) developers with researchers and regulators, through a well-attended satellite event. The meeting reinforced ECEAE’s role in supporting the next generation of scientists and building networks that accelerate the transition away from animal experiments.
Left to right: Dr Dilyana Filipova, Oksana Savchak, Michael Fiore, Dr Joe Davis Velchev, Julia Radzwill, Dr Tamara Zietek
From 22 to 24 June 2026, Dr Tamara Zierek (ECEAE Chair), Dr Dilyana Filipova (ECEAE Deputy Chair), and Julia Radzwill (NATworks Coordinator) represented ECEAE at this year's EUROoCS Annual Meeting in Braga, Portugal. The event is the leading European gathering for organ-on-chip and microphysiological systems (MPS) research. Around 580 participants from 30 countries came together for 120 presentations and 330 posters exploring the latest breakthroughs in human-relevant science — and ECEAE was proud to be part of it.
NATworks satellite event: mapping the global landscape of NAM developers
The conference started with ECEAE's own satellite event, introducing NATworks, a unique platform showcasing companies developing non-animal methods (NAMs). Seven inspiring talks – including a presentation from the NATworks Coordinator, a new professional NAM network, and five NAM companies across Europe and the UK – drew over 100 attendees. A relaxed vegan coffee break rounded off the morning, sparking new conversations and collaborations that set an energetic tone for the whole meeting.
Julia Radzwill and Dr Tamara Zietek opening ECEAE’s satellite event on NATworks
More than 100 participants come to exchange ideas and collaborate at the NATworks satellite event.
Supporting the next generation of animal-free researchers
This year, ECEAE awarded three €1,000 travel grants to early-career researchers driving the shift toward animal-free science, selected from 30 applicants across 12 countries.
Dr Joe Davis Velchev (KU Leuven, Belgium)
Dr Joe Davis Velchev is a postdoc working on lung‑on‑chip models for cystic fibrosis and pioneering vascularised human tissue platforms to demonstrate that human NAMs outperform animal models in predicting therapeutic responses.
Oksana Savchak (Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands)
Oksana Savchak is a PhD graduate from the Eindhoven University of Technology, who is now based in Portugal. Her “injury‑on‑a‑chip” work is driven by a clear ethical commitment to moving away from animal experiments and towards fully animal‑free neuroscience.
Michael Fiore (University College London, UK)
Michael Fiore (University College London, UK), a PhD student developing a human neurovascular unit‑on‑chip for gene therapy screening, committed to ending animal experiments through evidence-based advocacy.
In Braga, Joe Davis Velchev presented his work orally while Oksana Savchak and Michael Fiore shared posters – all three, in their own words, deeply committed to a future where human-relevant, animal-free models replace outdated animal experiments.
Dr Joe Davis Velchev (top) during his oral presentation, Michael Fiore (bottom, left) and Oksana Savchak (bottom, right) presenting their work with posters at the EUROoCS 2026 Annual Meeting
Notably, last year's grant recipient for the MPS World Summit 2025, Vânia Vilas Boas, helped connect ECEAE to this year's EUROoCS meeting – a reminder that these grants build lasting networks, not just individual opportunities.
Looking ahead
As European initiatives like the EU Roadmap towards phasing out animal testing for chemical safety assessments and the European Research Area (ERA) Action on accelerating NAMs gain momentum, ECEAE's presence at events like EUROoCS ensures that talented scientists and innovative NAM companies stay connected – and that animal-free science keeps moving forward.