Volume 55 Issue 1, January 2026

The 16^th FELASA Congress took place June 2025 in the cradle of science, Athens. Upon arrival, more than 2,000 professionals from 52 countries were welcomed by “Aristotle the Octopus”, a mascot alluding to Greek scientific heritage, Aristotle’s pioneering zoological observations and the values of intelligence, adaptability and ethics, which are central to laboratory animal science (LAS). The vibrant and friendly atmosphere was fertile ground for discussing advancements in LAS, regulation, education and ethics, but also for catching up with friends and colleagues, exchange ideas and start new collaborations. Having been involved in many aspects of the meeting – chairing sessions, delivering talks and workshops – we will share some insights and personal reflections on the meeting.

This study presents a bronchoscopically induced lung cancer model in Oncopigs with inducible KRAS and TP53 mutations. Showing high induction rates and human-like tumoral gene expression, the model offers a translational complement to rodent systems.

This study shows an efficient approach for in vitro production of marmoset embryos following an optimized ovarian stimulation protocol combined with laparoscopic ovum pick-up, potentially facilitating reproductive biotechnology in marmosets.

This study explores how biological, technical and experimental factors affect gut microbiota variability in mouse fecal samples. Repeated sampling improves statistical power but raises costs, highlighting the practical limitations of this approach.