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
Update on the ASPA-NGRA expert workshop in Berlin
After dedicated efforts behind the scenes, the ASPA-NGRA expert workshop finally took place in Berlin two weeks ago, bringing together a dynamic group of scientists, regulators, and stakeholders for two days of focused, hands-on discussions. The event centered on...
ASPA-NGRA Workshop
After months of preparation, the ASPA-NGRA Workshop is finally taking place - 27–28 May at the BfR in Berlin! Hosted by RISK-HUNT3R and co-organised by EFSA, ECHA, OECD, JRC, EPA, NIH/NIEHS, ONTOX, PrecisionTox, and BfR, it will bring together international experts...
3rd RISK-HUNT3R stakeholder symposium
The RISK-HUNT3R project is very happy to invite you to the third edition of its public Stakeholder Symposium, taking place on 17-18 June 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. The Symposium will provide an overview of the ASPA NGRA workflow and linked case studies, as well as the...