On 23-24 October 2025, PARC held its second online training course on in silico models and read-across using VEGAHUB, coordinated by the Istituto Mario Negri (IRFMN) ↗, Italy. This follow-up course attracted 42 participants from 21 countries across Europe and beyond, eager to build their practical skills.

Unlike the first VEGAHUB training delivered by IRFMN, which focused primarily on the theoretical foundations and model overviews, this course was designed to apply knowledge in practice. Participants engaged in guided exercises and case studies exploring how to assess cosmetics, evaluate mutagenicity and genotoxicity, and examine environmental properties such as bioaccumulation and fish toxicity, using a range of freely available tools including VEGA, ToxRead, VERA, CosmoLIFE and ToxEraser.

After the initial course, introducing the methods in a detailed but classical way, we decided to actively interact with the participants. We provided substances to be evaluated by them. The purpose was not to see if the evaluation was right or wrong; indeed, in some cases the real property value was not known. The purpose was to discuss together the way to proceed, what is provided by the tools beyond the prediction, how to assess them and integrate this into a possibly coherent assessment. The tools, indeed, provide material for reasoning to help the assessor in her/his work, highlighted Emilio Benfenati, scientific coordinator.

The sessions were delivered in small interactive groups, allowing for real-time feedback and open dialogue with the trainers. Participants gained a deeper understanding of how to critically interpret model outputs, compare lines of evidence, and apply read-across principles to support regulatory or scientific decisions.

The course was more than a training – it was an opportunity to share knowledge and exchange experiences across diverse areas of in silico toxicology, said Jefferson Pereira, participant from Brazil. It introduced innovative and freely available tools that strengthen expert judgement for scientific and regulatory decision-making, particularly in contexts and countries where clear frameworks and directives are still under development. I truly enjoyed the experience and look forward to joining future editions, he added.

Nikolaos Katerelos, another participant, remarked: Thank you for offering me the opportunity to participate in the PARC Training Course on ‘Exercises with In Silico Models and Read-Across Using VEGAHUB’. It was very well organised around the needs of each participant and gave valuable details on the function and use of each selected programme. I now have a completely different perspective and a deeper understanding of this suite of tools, and I appreciate their value for scientists.

By fostering critical thinking and practical engagement, the course successfully supported PARC’s objective to enhance capacity in the application of next-generation risk assessment tools, particularly in the shift towards non-animal testing strategies and data-driven decision-making.

Stay connected to the PARC website for upcoming training opportunities and more.