Monica Gotta, Full Professor in the Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, has been honoured by the Philantropia Foundation for her use of alternative models to animal experimentation. Her research on the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, a small worm of the nematode family, has been recognised for its quality and social value.

Monica Gotta's work reflects a strong commitment to upholding the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) in biomedical research. Her approach makes it possible to address fundamental biological questions whilst considerably reducing the use of more complex animals, in line with international efforts to promote more ethical research practices. Monica Gotta works on asymmetric cell division, a fundamental process essential for the generation of cell diversity during development and for the self-renewal of stem cells. She had already been recognised in 2025 by the Egon Naef Foundation for in vitro research. Both foundations support the development of alternatives to animal experimentation.