The dual revolution of AI and animal-free science - Thomas Hartung, Johns Hopkins University

In this episode I speak with Professor Thomas Hartung. Prof Hartung is Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair of Evidence-based Toxicology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Konstanz. He also holds positions as Director of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) and Field Chief Editor of the academic journal Frontiers in AI, and was the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Peter Singer Prize. We have a fascinating discussion about the breathtaking developments in AI and animal-free toxicology, and what this means for areas like drug development, chemical regulation, public health, animal testing, research ethics, the exposome, and the future of our society.Our conversation covers:New Approach Methodologies (NAMs): the new automobile?Technological advances in microphysiological systems (MPS) and artificial intelligence (AI)The problems with animal modelsChallenges with validation and regulatory acceptance of NAMsThe importance of education for uptake of NAMsRecent developments on US animal testing policyWhat is happening in the EU? Differences between regions and regulatory systemsHow AI is transforming research, and using it in day-to-day work Implications of AI for quality of scientific publications and risk of biasThe Human Exposome Project: what is it, and how can AI help deliver it?Environmental persistence, the exposome, and the public discourse on chemicalsNAMazing: Déjà Vu at the lab bench - Why animal-free science is the new automobile - ScienceDirectNIH stops funding new projects which focus only on animal testing | Cruelty Free InternationalThe turning point: April 2025 marks historic shift in US animal testing policy | ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentationREACH out-numbered! The future of REACH and animal numbers | ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentationA systematic analysis of read-across adaptations in testing proposal evaluations by the European Chemicals Agency | ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentationGuidance for Good In Vitro Reporting Standards (GIVReSt) – A draft for stakeholder discussion and background documentation | ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentationTop 10 Emerging Technologies of 2024 | World Economic ForumAssessing risk of bias in toxicological studies in the era of artificial intelligence | Archives of ToxicologyIs regulatory science ready for artificial intelligence? | npj Digital MedicineHow AI can deliver the Human Exposome Project | Nature MedicineStockholm Declaration on Chemistry for the FutureVisit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com