Prof. Dr. Bob van de Water is Professor of Drug Safety Sciences and Head of the Division of Cell Systems and Drug Safety at the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University. Over the past 30 years his research has focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying toxicity and adverse drug reactions, with an emphasis on the integration of omics technologies, imaging, and fluorescent reporter systems to mechanisms of toxicity using in vitro human-relevant test methods. He was a driving force in the advancement of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) frameworks for predictive safety testing. He has coordinated the Horizon2020 EU-ToxRisk and RISK-HUNT3R project and participated in multiple European research initiatives dedicated to next-generation risk assessment and the reduction of animal testing. His work bridges mechanistic toxicology, data-driven modeling, and regulatory application, shaping how emerging science is translated into safer pharmaceuticals and chemicals.