EU-LIFE co-chairs workshop of the ERA Action on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)

EU-LIFE co-organised the European Research Area (ERA) Workshop and General Assembly Meeting of the ERA Action on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), held in Bratislava on 19 May 2026. Marta Agostinho, EU-LIFE Executive Director, represented EU-LIFE and co-chaired the workshop as part of the Steering Team of this Action.

The meeting gathered the General Assembly of the ERA Action together with the steering committees of its four working groups, providing an important opportunity to align priorities and advance the implementation of the Action.

“The energy in Bratislava showed a real shared commitment to move this ERA Action forward. The working groups are already turning ambition into concrete tasks, and their close collaboration will be key to delivering our goals. By connecting with other ERA Actions, Structural Policies and initiatives across Europe and beyond, we can ensure this Action adds real value to the wider NAMs landscape. We look forward to building on this momentum towards the next General Assembly in September,” said Marta Agostinho.

The ERA Action, titled “Accelerating new approach methodologies (NAMs) to advance biomedical research and testing of medicinal products and medical devices”, is part of the ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027. Through its participation in the ERA Forum, EU-LIFE co-created the ERA Action on NAMs and co-sponsors it with representatives of the Netherlands, working together with the European Commission. In addition, several experts from EU-LIFE member institutes participate in the ERA Action working groups.

EU-LIFE advocates for a balanced and constructive approach: supporting the development and use of scientifically validated NAMs to reduce animal use wherever possible, while recognising that animal research remains necessary where no validated alternative exists.

EU-LIFE has been actively engaged in this policy area over the past years, contributing the perspective of independent research institutes to European discussions on animal research and NAMs. The alliance has engaged in exchanges with the European Commission, such as the closed workshop on future funding opportunities for NAMs in EU programmes, held in April 2025. EU-LIFE was represented by Marta Agostinho, together with Luis Serrano (CRG) and Jon Jonkers (NKI), among other invited experts. Furthermore, EU-LIFE has worked closely with partners such as LERU to constructively respond to policy developments linked to animal use in research and regulatory testing with joint public statements. [1] 

Through this ERA Action, EU-LIFE continues contributing to a European policy framework that promotes scientific progress, strengthens coordination across Member States, and supports responsible innovation in biomedical research.

[1] For detailed information on EU-LIFE’s recommendations for NAMs, consult:

• Open letter: Hearing Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare 
• LERU and EU-LIFE foresee many negative consequences if the ERA Proposal 'non-animal approaches in biomedical research and testing of pharmaceuticals’ is accepted in its current form
• LERU and EU-LIFE applaud the European Commission for a sensible approach regarding animal research
• Joint LERU/EU-LIFE Statement on the ECI ‘Save Cruelty-free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing’
• The use of animals for the generation of high-quality antibodies remains necessary for research and therapeutic applications