Last week, the Dutch KIA ST initiative published ten action agendas with innovation programs. One of these is entitled “Biomolecular and cellular technologies” and will focus on the development of organ-on-a-chip technologies.

On January 20, 2026, the EU Parliament reached a landmark agreement to ban animal testing in the development of detergents and related cleaning products. While animal testing has long been banned for finished household products, the revision of the EU Detergents Regulation now also includes a comprehensive ban on animal testing for the ingredients of detergents and cleaning products. The new regulation will come into force in mid-2029.

The European Partnership for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EPAA) is once again awarding travel scholarships this year. Students and young scientists working on alternatives to animal testing (the 3Rs) can apply for a travel grant of €1,000 to present their work at one of the leading conferences in 2026.

Dr. Agnieszka Rybak-Wolf, head of the organoid laboratory at the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin, has been awarded a research grant of €200,000 by the Alzheimer Research Initiative. The grant will enable her to investigate early molecular mechanisms that could contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease.