Prof. Mathieu Vinken, affiliated with the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), has been awarded the prestigious "Prize Dr. Monique Govaerts and Joseph Lepoix for the study of intoxications" for his research titled "Next generation prediction of human safety of chemical compounds: liver toxicity as a case study." This prize, granted only once every five years, was presented during an official ceremony organized by the Belgian Royal Academy for Medicine in Brussels on September 28th.

Prof. Vinken's award-winning research introduces an innovative method for accurately predicting the safety of various chemical substances for humans, including those found in biocides, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. This approach utilizes a combination of artificial intelligence and in vitro studies, eliminating the need for animal testing. The research focuses primarily on liver toxicity caused by bile acid accumulation, also known as cholestasis. Still, it can be applied to a wide range of toxicities caused by chemical substances in the future.

Prof. Mathieu Vinken expressed his enthusiasm upon receiving the award:

"I am extremely honored to receive this prestigious prize. This not only recognizes the importance of our research but also highlights the urgency of alternative, animal-free methods for chemical risk assessment."

He adds:

"This award emphasizes the impact of our work on liver toxicity, but what excites me most is the potential to expand our methodology to other toxic reactions, thereby contributing to the development of safer products for humans."

The Belgian Royal Academy for Medicine awards the "Prize Dr. Monique Govaerts and Joseph Lepoix for the study of intoxications" every five years. It honors researchers who have made groundbreaking contributions to toxicology and the risk assessment of chemical substances.

About Prof. Mathieu Vinken

Prof. Mathieu Vinken is a professor at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research focuses on toxicology and alternative testing methods for the evaluation of chemical substances without the use of animal testing. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to the development of new, advanced in vitro methods and is an advocate for animal-free science in toxicological research.