The project in short
RISK-HUNT3R, short for “RISK assessment of chemicals integrating HUman centric Next generation Testing strategies promoting the 3Rs”, is a European Research & Innovation project funded under the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme. The 5-year project runs from June 2021 with a funded budget of €22.9M. RISK-HUNT3R builds on the outcomes of the Horizon 2020 toxicological flagship project EU-ToxRisk, ending by the end of 2021.
Why?
Science and society are increasingly demanding a paradigm shift towards chemical safety and risk assessment without using animals. In addition to growing ethical concerns around the use of animal studies, there is the fundamental need to address all potential health effects relevant and specific to humans. In addition, due to increasing regulatory demands, the limited laboratory capacity and high costs of animal-based testing is becoming a hurdle for the provision of all desired information requirements for chemicals safety assessment.
How?
The project will develop, validate and implement integrated approaches to lead the way towards next-generation risk assessment (NGRA). Innovative mechanism-based new approach methods (NAMs) will exclusively be in vitro and in silico and relevant for human health. Through systematic and iterative evaluation of its NAM toolbox, the project will optimize a strategy to assess chemical exposure, toxicokinetics, and toxicodynamics.
RISK-HUNT3R will provide a full sustainable framework for NGRA that is human-relevant, fully based on non-animal approaches, and fit for implementation through engagement with chemical safety regulators.
Research cluster ASPIS
RISK-HUNT3R is one of three projects constituting the research cluster ASPIS (“Animal-free Safety assessment of chemicals: Project cluster for Implementation of novel Strategies”). Together with the projects ONTOX and PrecisionTOX, this will represent Europe’s €60M effort towards the sustainable, animal-free and reliable chemical risk assessment of tomorrow.
News
Training: Building next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) case studies using the Alternative Safety Profiling Algorithm (ASPA)
On 26-27 January, RISK-HUNT3R organises a training on building next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) case studies using the Alternative Safety Profiling Algorithm (ASPA). If you are working on, or are interested in, NGRA case studies and the practical use of ASPA, we...
RISK-HUNT3R dissemination activities 2025
To end 2025, we have published a bulletin that reviews the dissemination activities carried out by RISK-HUNT3R partners in 2025. Enjoy the read and happy holidays!
First ASPA Publication
The first scientific publication introducing the Alternative Safety Profiling Algorithm (ASPA) has been released in ALTEX (October 2025)! “An Alternative Safety Profiling Algorithm (ASPA) to Transform Next Generation Risk Assessment into a Structured and Transparent...