ESTIV 2026 brought together researchers, regulators and industry experts from across the toxicology community to discuss the future of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), with regulatory validation and implementation as central themes throughout the conference.

Across scientific sessions, one message stood out: the field is rapidly progressing from innovation to implementation, with increasing emphasis on quality, collaboration and regulatory acceptance.

A key topic we’d like to highlight is the importance of quality assurance for NAMs. Throughout the conference, we saw presentations with ongoing efforts to improve the reliability and reproducibility of in vitro systems through better quality control of cell cultures and the adoption of animal-free cell culture components.

Another recurring theme was collaboration. It was encouraging to see regulators, researchers, industry partners and CROs openly sharing knowledge and participating in joint sessions. The conference reflected a growing awareness on the value of combining different approaches, for example, in silico and in vitro methods to generate robust data and make more informed decisions. Researchers from academia showcased a range of promising new models that are steadily moving towards validation.

Regulatory readiness was central to many sessions. Representatives from European and US regulatory agencies, government, academia, and industry were present, exploring how NAMs can be validated and successfully integrated into regulatory decision-making, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration among all stakeholders.

Toxys was proud to contribute to these discussions through two scientific presentations on genotoxicity and developmental toxicity testing, showcasing our ToxTracker® and ReproTracker® assays. The genotoxicity session attracted a full audience and featured several complementary NAMs, including ToxTracker, Genomark, γH2AX and SMM-Seq, demonstrating how multiple approaches can work together to strengthen safety assessment strategies.

One of the conference highlights was the announcement of OECD Test Guideline 446A, which includes ToxTracker as part of an integrated approach for genetic toxicology testing. This important milestone demonstrates how validated NAMs are increasingly being incorporated into internationally recognized regulatory frameworks, supporting more predictive approaches to toxicology.

ESTIV 2026 reinforced that the future of toxicology will be shaped through scientific excellence, collaboration and the continued integration of validated NAMs.

We thank everyone who visited our booth, attended our presentations and shared valuable discussions throughout the conference. If you’d like to get more information on our presentations, posters, or our product portfolio, please contact our team at enquires@toxys.com