Kick-off Meeting of STEP4NAMs: Shaping the Future of NAMs Together

On February 25 and 26, 2024, the official kick-off meeting of the STEP4NAMs project took place in Stuttgart. Our international consortium of ten partners gathered to set the course for promoting New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in drug and medical device development.

NAMs – including Organ-on-Chip, organoids, digital twins, and bioprinting – offer innovative, animal-free testing methods. However, regulatory barriers, insufficient infrastructure, and knowledge gaps hinder their widespread application. STEP4NAMs aims to change that.

During the meeting, key objectives were defined:

  • Developing a joint strategy to promote NAMs
  • Conducting four pilot studies to validate best practices
  • Creating a NAM validation handbook for researchers and developers
  • Establishing a training and support program for stakeholders

We look forward to the next steps and to actively driving the adoption of NAMs forward!


Pictures from the Kick-off Meeting – Impressions from Stuttgart:

Working together to set the stage for NAMs in the development of drugs and medical devices
(Stuttgart) – BioRegio STERN Management GmbH is the lead partner responsible for the new STEP4NAMs project (Step up the use for new approach methodologies to replace animal testing), which is promoting the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) that can replace animal testing. The project is funded by the European Union as part of the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) programme. Over the course of four years, the project aims to drive forward NAMs in an effort to remove the need for animal testing during the development of drugs and medical devices, while also improving clinical predictions. Ten project partners from six countries are developing a joint strategy to improve the acceptance of NAMs in the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors, boost research and innovation capacities, and thus drive forward the approval of safe drugs and medical devices. The kick-off meeting was held in Stuttgart on 25/26 February 2025.