Chairs: Rita Ortega-Vallbona & Luiz Ladeira
Early-career researchers (ECRs) are at the forefront of innovation in toxicology and next-generation risk assessment. Within major European initiatives such as the ASPIS cluster (comprising the ONTOX, Risk-Hunt3r, and PrecisionTox projects), the European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC), and the consortium for Developing and implementing Virtual Control groups To reduce animal use in toxicology Research (VICT3R), ECRs have established dedicated communities including the ASPIS Academy, PARC Junior Community and VICT3R ESR network.
This interactive lunch session brings together these communities to foster exchange, networking, and collaboration among young scientists. Representatives from each network will provide short introductory presentations highlighting their missions, ongoing activities, and opportunities for engagement across academia, industry, and regulatory science.
This session will include an interactive segment to gather participants‘ perspectives on their needs, expectations, and challenges as ECR, encouraging open discussion and shared reflection.
By creating a space for dialogue and peer exchange, this session aims to strengthen connections across European initiatives, identify shared priorities, and explore how ECR communities can better support the next generation of scientists in toxicology and chemical safety.
This session aligns with ESTIV’s long-lasting support of ECRs by promoting visibility, interaction, and cross-network collaboration.
Places are not limited. However, please register as the organisers will order lunch boxes for this session: https://forms.gle/nTWmQFNLkw4YMPE38.
Keywords: Early-career researchers, toxicology, networking, chemical risk assessment, NAMs
Speakers
- Rita Ortega-Vallbona – The ASPIS Academy: empowering the next generation of toxicologists
- Katya Manuella Permana – PARC Junior Community: the early-stage researcher community of the Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC)
- Julia Matyjasiak – Introduction to VICT3R ESR network
Rita Ortega Vallbona – ASPIS Academy
Rita Ortega Vallbona is a researcher at ProtoQSAR in Valencia, Spain, where she completed her PhD in 2025. Her research focuses on developing computational strategies to predict hepatic toxicity from its underlying mechanisms, including QSAR models, molecular modelling, and other in silico approaches for next-generation risk assessment.
Rita has been actively involved in the ASPIS Academy since April 2024. Within the network, she coordinates the Twinning Programme, contributes to networking activities, and supports the organisation of training initiatives for early-stage researchers. The ASPIS Academy is the early-stage researcher network of the ASPIS cluster, which brings together the ONTOX, RISK-HUNT3R, and PrecisionTox projects to advance animal-free chemical risk assessment through New Approach Methodologies.
Katya Manuella Permana – PARC Junior Community
Katya Manuella Permana has been working as part of the coordination team at ANSES, France, for the Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) since 2023. She first joined ANSES as an intern during her Master’s in Public Health and later continued as a project manager for PARC.
PARC is a seven-year European partnership aimed at strengthening research and innovation capacity for chemical risk assessment to better protect human health and the environment. Within PARC, Katya is involved in the PARC Junior Community, which was established in 2024 to support junior members of the partnership. The community now includes more than 170 registered members and organizes activities such as webinars, career opportunity sharing, and competitions to support conference participation.
Julia Matyjasiak – VICT3R ESR Network
Julia Matyjasiak is a PhD student at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium, where she researches the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence in toxicology. She is part of VICT3R, an Innovative Health Initiative public-private consortium focused on reducing live animal use in toxicology studies by developing computational and statistical approaches to replace animals in control groups.
Together with Jorge Lemos Portela from Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Dr Jian Jiang from VUB, Julia helps organize the VICT3R Early Stage Researcher platform. The network supports early-stage researchers through activities including Q&A sessions, literature clubs, mentoring initiatives, and informal career-building sessions with senior VICT3R members.