The European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV) is proud to announce the recipients of the inaugural Liebsch & Spielmann Award for Contributions to the Validation of Alternative Methods.

The 2026 Liebsch & Spielmann Award was presented to Dr. Susanne Kolle and Prof. Dr. Robert Landsiedel of BASF during the ESTIV 2026 Congress in Maastricht, in recognition of their outstanding and sustained contributions to the validation, regulatory acceptance, and implementation of alternative methods in toxicology.

Through their scientific leadership and commitment to advancing New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), Dr. Kolle and Prof. Landsiedel have made outstanding contributions to the development, validation, and regulatory acceptance of non-animal approaches for safety assessment. Their work has had a significant international impact and exemplifies the spirit of scientific excellence and collaboration that the Liebsch & Spielmann Award seeks to recognize.

The award was presented by Dr. Helena Kanďárová, President of ESTIV, together with Dr. Philip Marx-Stoelting, representing the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). The participation of BfR in the ceremony reflects the legacy of Dr. Manfred Liebsch and Prof. Horst Spielmann, whose pioneering work at BfR/ZEBET established many of the scientific principles that continue to underpin the validation of alternative methods.

ESTIV warmly congratulates Dr. Susanne Kolle and Prof. Robert Landsiedel on receiving the inaugural Liebsch & Spielmann Award and thanks them for their lasting contributions to the advancement of validation science and innovative, human-relevant toxicology.