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Senior Assistant Professor Miyashita presented research at an international conference in Europe, participating in international exchanges on alternative methods to animal testing between Japan and Asia.

From June 29 (Monday) to July 2 (Thursday), 2026, at the 23rd International Congress of the European Society of Extracorporeal Toxicology (ESTIV 2026) held in Maastricht, Netherlands, Atsushi Miyashita, Senior Assistant Professor at the Institute for Medical Mycology, Teikyo University, presented his research findings and participated in international exchanges on alternative methods to animal testing in Japan and Asia.

ESTIV is an international academic conference on toxicity assessment technologies utilizing in vitro and in silico testing. This conference focused on novel approaches (NAMs: new non-animal assessment methods), regulatory science, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and international collaboration, with active discussions on the development of safety and efficacy assessments that can replace or reduce animal testing.

In the Young Researchers Session, Senior Assistant Professor Miyashita presented on drug discovery and safety evaluation research using an infected silkworm model. He introduced the possibility of quantitatively evaluating drug efficacy, toxicity, and changes in individual condition associated with infection by utilizing silkworms as a biological model that bridges the gap between in vitro and mammalian studies, and by combining them with AI-based image analysis and automated observation technologies.
I also participated in international exchange sessions in my capacity as a representative of the Japanese Society for Alternatives to Animal Experiments (JSAAE) and the Asian Federation for Alternatives to Animal Experiments (AFSAAE). I exchanged views with researchers from India, Sri Lanka, China, and South Korea on research trends and human resource development, and shared the importance of international exchange for young researchers.
At the closing ceremony, Senior Assistant Professor Miyashita, representing the conference, presented the JSAAE Best Oral Presentation Award to Afaf Fizazi from the University of Mons, Belgium, and the JSAAE Best Poster Presentation Award to Yejin Do from South Korea Institute of Toxicology and Korea University of Science and Technology.

During the conference, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the European Society of Extracorporeal Toxicology (ESTIV) and AFSAAE to promote cooperation in scientific exchange, human resource development, and the development and implementation of NAMs. Senior Assistant Professor Miyashita commented, "It is hoped that researchers from Europe and Asia will collaborate to continuously share knowledge toward the development and social implementation of new, scientifically reliable evaluation methods."

Our university will continue to work towards developing a research infrastructure that balances scientific validity with consideration for animal welfare through infectious disease research and drug discovery research utilizing silkworms, and through participation in the international NAMs research network.

Click here for information about the Medical Mycology Research Institute.
Click here for information about Senior Assistant Professor Miyashita.

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