On 7 July 2025, the Centre for Animal-free Biomedical Translation, supported by the Dutch National Growth Fund, was officially launched under its new name: Ombion Centre for Animal-free Biomedical Translation.
The launch of Ombion took place during a festive event in presence of many guests at the Life Sciences Incubator building at Utrecht Science Park. It also marked the opening of Ombion’s on-site centre at the same location. The opening of the centre and the unveiling of the new name and logo was performed by Marten van den Berg, Director General Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, together with Daniela Salvatori, Ombion’s Scientific Director ad interim.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature originally submitted the CPBT National Growth Fund proposal, which was granted last year. This has now resulted in the establishment of the centre. In his speech, Director General van den Berg underlined the ministry’s support for the Ombion Growth Fund initiative and its goals.
The afternoon program also included pitch-style presentations of Ombion’s main projects and activities, highlighting the various organisations collaborating within the public-private partnership and the involved disease models.
After the presentations, an information market featuring research materials and demonstrations of the projects that are part of the Ombion programme inspired attendees, followed by a lively networking session that concluded the event.
The launch is an important milestone for Ombion as it is also the starting point of its operational phase. Initially, the main focus of the centre will be on four transition projects, demonstrating the benefits of animal-free translation techniques in specific medical research fields: ALS, Cystic Fibrosis, Osteoarthritis & Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Asthma & COPD. The new centre will also offer education, training, advice, and support to enhance the acceptance and use of animal-free biomedical innovations. With all activities combined, Ombion will run an integrated programme that accelerates the transition to animal-free translation and strengthens the earning capacity of the Netherlands.
Daniela Salvatori commented: “Today marks a pivotal moment as we officially open the centre and launch our partnership, united by a shared mission to accelerate the transition to animal-free biomedical translation. The energy in the room was truly inspiring – a reflection of the passion and commitment driving this initiative forward. I am looking forward to see the community grow, and I hope that our private and public partnership will consolidate and be open to new projects and initiatives, both nationally and internationally.”
Within Ombion, over 60 partners representing academia, research organisations, industry, regulatory organisations, government bodies, patient organisations, NGOs, and others are working together to pave the way for the transition to animal-free biomedical translation. Founding partners of Ombion are Utrecht University, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, UMC Utrecht, UMCG, and Maastricht University.
UMC Utrecht plays a central role in Ombion. The University Medical Centre will coordinate the transition projects on ALS (Jeroen Pasterkamp) and cystic fibrosis (Jeffrey Beekman), where researchers aim to develop human-relevant disease models that better mimic patient biology and enable faster, more effective drug development without the use of animals. UMC Utrecht will also contribute to the projects on osteoarthritis/rheumatoid arthritis (Ronald Bleys, Niels Eijkelkamp, Roel Custers, Jaqueline Lourdes Rios) and asthma/COPD (Louis Bont, Jeffrey Beekman), bringing in expertise to improve the understanding and treatment of these conditions through animal-free methods. In addition, Niels Bovenschen will ensure that innovations developed within Ombion are directly integrated into biomedical education, helping to prepare the next generation of researchers and strengthen the adoption of animal-free research practices.
Ombion Centre for Animal-free Biomedical Translation is a national centre for valorising and disseminating animal-free innovations and expertise. It aims to improve and accelerate the transition of new biomedical innovations to patients and users, at lower costs, and without the use of animals. This will lead to safer, more effective, and better medicines while reducing animal testing.
Together with a large number of national and international partners, Ombion will work on the development and dissemination of animal-free biomedical innovations and expertise.
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(Credit photographs: Thijs Rooimans)
