Dr. Helena Kandarova, ERT, ONTOX Deputy Coordinator for Dissemination, Exploitation, Communication and Data Management, has been awarded EUROTOX Honorary Membership in recognition of her longstanding contributions to European toxicology, scientific leadership, and the advancement of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
EUROTOX President Prof. Emanuela Corsini presented the certificate during the 60th EUROTOX Congress, held in Vienna on 13–16 September 2026. EUROTOX grants Honorary Membership to scientists who have provided distinguished service to the EUROTOX objectives and contributed to the development of toxicology through science and education across Europe.
Presentation of the EUROTOX Honorary Membership certificate to Dr. Helena Kandarova by EUROTOX President Prof. Emanuela Corsini at EUROTOX 2026 in Vienna.
For Helena, this recognition reflects more than two decades of contributions to the development of human-relevant approaches in toxicology and many years of active engagement with EUROTOX and the wider international scientific community. She served as President of the EUROTOX 2017 Congress in Bratislava and chaired the EUROTOX Communication Subcommittee from 2017 to 2021. She is a member of the EUROTOX Faculty and President of the European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV), a EUROTOX-affiliated scientific society. In 2022, her scientific achievements were recognised with the inaugural EUROTOX Lecture Award.
Her scientific career has focused on the development, validation and regulatory acceptance of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), particularly non-animal approaches based on human-relevant in vitro models. Helena has contributed to the development of several OECD Test Guidelines and international standards, helping to translate scientific advances into internationally recognised testing approaches.
In addition to her scientific activities, Helena serves as Slovakia’s National Coordinator for the OECD Test Guidelines Programme and Chair of the Slovak National Platform for 3Rs. Through her involvement in the European Research Area initiative ERA4NAMs, she contributes to European efforts to strengthen education, training and capacity building in New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). She also participates in international expert groups focused on the development, validation and regulatory implementation of NAMs. Her work bridges scientific research, regulatory harmonisation, education and collaboration with industry, regulatory authorities and international organisations.
From scientific development to practical use
These areas are closely connected with Helena’s role in ONTOX. Since 2023, she has served as Director of the Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Centre of Experimental Medicine of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (CEM SAS), one of the 19 ONTOX partners. In addition to her role as ONTOX Deputy Coordinator for Dissemination, Exploitation, Communication and Data Management, she leads the Communication Work Package (WP14) and, since 2026, also the Risk Assessment and Implementation Work Package (WP6). Her responsibilities combine strategic communication and stakeholder engagement with scientific activities aimed at supporting confidence in NAMs and their integration into Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA).
“I am deeply honoured by this recognition and grateful to the colleagues across EUROTOX who have been part of my professional journey. Much of my work has been driven by the same goal that underpins ONTOX: helping robust, human-relevant methods move from scientific development towards practical and regulatory use. ONTOX has shown again how important collaboration is – between experimental scientists, computational experts, regulators, industry and young researchers – if new approaches are to become trusted and useful in chemical safety assessment,” said Helena on receiving the award.
EUROTOX has also played an important role in extending ONTOX’s outreach to the wider toxicology community. Throughout the project, EUROTOX congresses, educational activities, podcasts and the Early Career Forum have provided valuable opportunities for ONTOX scientists to disseminate their research, exchange knowledge and engage with experts beyond the consortium. Dedicated communication campaigns accompanied ONTOX participation at several EUROTOX congresses, while EUROTOX’s scientific and professional networks helped increase the project’s visibility, strengthen stakeholder engagement and promote the wider uptake of its scientific outcomes.
The 2026 Honorary Membership adds to Helena Kandarova’s previous international recognitions and acknowledges a career that combines toxicological research with education, communication and cooperation across scientific and regulatory communities. Her current contribution to a new OECD initiative on the integration of artificial intelligence into chemical safety assessment further reflects her commitment to bridging emerging scientific technologies and regulatory needs.
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