Brussels, Belgium, October 26, 2026. The Board of Directors of the Industry Alliance for Microphysiological Systems (IAMPS) has agreed to broaden its membership in 2027 to include providers of complementary New Approach Methodology (NAM) technologies, international technology providers, and contract research organizations (CROs) with a demonstrable commitment to NAM development and implementation. The expansion will bring together MPS developers and providers of complementary approaches, including in silico models, artificial intelligence and digital twins, while preserving IAMPS’ focus on technology development and deployment.

Building on its work bringing together EU-based organoid, organ-on-chip and 3D human tissue providers around shared regulatory and policy objectives, IAMPS aims to strengthen the European MPS ecosystem through complementary technologies and international collaboration. The broader technology base will help address pharmaceutical companies’ needs for robust, fit-for-purpose NAMs and support collaborative qualification and adoption initiatives. 

Thibault Honegger, IAMPS’ President, said: “Our priority is to accelerate the adoption of technologies that address concrete needs in preclinical research and testing. Bringing together MPS developers, complementary NAM technology providers and CROs with a clear implementation strategy will help translate innovation into assays that industry can use. This expansion preserves our independent voice as a technology-focused alliance, with existing membership safeguards and case-by-case Board review. It also creates a broader basis for collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and for dialogue with regulators in Europe and internationally.” 

Companies wishing to join IAMPS in 2027 are encouraged to apply during the last quarter of 2026. Applications will be reviewed case by case by the Board for alignment with IAMPS’ mission. CRO applicants will be expected to present their NAM strategy and demonstrate a sustained commitment to developing or implementing these approaches. Pharmaceutical companies will remain collaboration partners and end users, rather than becoming members of the alliance. 

Successful applicants will contribute to collaborative efforts to qualify MPS and complementary NAMs for specific preclinical contexts of use, advocate for targeted funding to deploy these approaches at scale and support their adoption by pharmaceutical and other industrial users. Participation in projects is distinct from membership of the association and remains subject to each project’s requirements. 

In December 2025, the European Commission published the draft EU Biotech Act listing the integration of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in preclinical development and regulatory testing as “health biotechnology strategic projects.”[1] The provisions related to NAMs in the act have since been strengthened in October 2026 by the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety[2]. In June 2026, the Commission published a roadmap towards phasing out animal testing for chemical safety assessments, which aims to gradually replace animal tests with “non-animal approaches” across many regulatory areas, including chemical medicines[3].

About IAMPS 

Based in Brussels, IAMPS works to accelerate the regulatory acceptance of MPS and complementary NAMs through coordinated efforts on validation, qualification, and standardisation. The alliance also advocates EU programmes and legislation that recognize the strategic importance of a strong European MPS industry in supporting the achievement of key EU policy objectives. Those include accelerating drug discovery, strengthening the competitiveness of Europe’s biotechnology sector, and reducing the use of animals in chemical safety assessments. The founding members AlveoliX, BiomimX, Dynamic42, chiron, InSphero, MIMETAS, NETRI, React4life, and TissUse were joined by Mattek, now part of Sartorius, in June 2026. 

Follow IAMPS on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iampseu/ 

Contact

Helder Constantino                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Managing Director                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            +32 4 71 28 13 34                                                                                                                                                                                                                                helder.constantino@iamps.eu

[1] https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ec1475b7-e3f9-409e-b927-fc7e69306a8c_en?filename=biotech_reg-com2025-1022_act_en.pdf

[2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/ENVI-AD-788881_EN.pdf

[3] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/chemicals/reach/roadmap-towards-phasing-out-animal-testing_en