European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV) presents Liebsch and Spielmann Award Former BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment scientists honoured for their contribution to the validation of alternative methods
What it's about:
At the 13th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences in Rio de Janeiro in September 2025, the European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV) presented a new award: the Liebsch and Spielmann Award.
The award is named after Dr Manfred Liebsch and Prof. Dr Horst Spielmann, two renowned scientists in the field of alternative methods to animal testing. In their honour, the award will recognise the work of committed scientists in the field of developing, validating and gaining official recognition for alternative methods. Dr Liebsch and Prof. Dr Spielmann worked at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) for many years, where they led the establishment and work of the Centre for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternative Methods to Animal Experiments (ZEBET).
ZEBET was founded at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in 1989. Since its beginning, the centre’s tasks have included the documentation, evaluation and supervision of scientific methods and projects for the development of alternative methods in line with the 3R principle (Reduce, Replace, Refine). This made ZEBET the only institution of its kind worldwide and enabled it to quickly contribute significantly to the reduction of animal testing. ZEBET's work has already received great international recognition in its early years. Since 2015, ZEBET has been integrated into the German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.
The Liebsch and Spielmann Award will be presented for the first time next year at the ESTIV Congress in Maastricht.
The European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV) presented the Liebsch and Spielmann Award to an international audience of experts at the 13th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, which took place in Rio de Janeiro from 30 August to 4 September 2025. This award honours international researchers for their scientific contributions in the field of developing, validating and gaining regulatory acceptance for alternative methods to animal testing. It also aims to promote innovation and commitment in human sciences.
The award is named after two renowned scientists in the field of alternative methods – Dr Manfred Liebsch and Prof. Dr Horst Spielmann. Both made major contributions to international regulatory science in the field of in vitro toxicology and the further development of new methods (NAMs).
Dr Liebsch and Prof. Dr Spielmann were for many years heads of the Centre for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternative Methods to Animal Experiments (ZEBET) at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment). The centre was founded in 1989 with the aim of limiting the use of animals for scientific purposes to a necessary minimum and developing alternatives to animal testing. Its tasks included the documentation, evaluation and supervision of scientific projects for the development of alternative methods in accordance with the 3R principle (reduce, replace, refine), as well as its own research work on alternative methods. The focus here was, among other things, on establishing new stem cell-based in vitro model systems (embryonic stem cell test, EST) and organotypic skin models for detecting the irritant and corrosive effects of chemicals. In addition, ZEBET was responsible for advising state authorities on alternatives to animal testing.
As a result of ZEBET's work in validation projects, the first in vitro toxicity tests for regulatory purposes were recognised at international level, including by the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). All these activities have been contributing to reducing the use of laboratory animals for years. Since 2015, ZEBET has been fully integrated into the German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R).
The Liebsch and Spielmann Award will be presented for the first time at the next ESTIV Congress in Maastricht from 29 June to 2 July 2026. It will then be awarded every two years to international scientists.
Further information on the Bf3R website
- Information page on the Central Office for the Registration and Evaluation of Alternative and Supplementary Methods to Animal Experiments (ZEBET) External Link: Go to website
- Questions and answers on animal testing, alternative methods and laboratory animal numbers Go to FAQ