Modeling Fat Tissue in Health and Disease

Recently, the role of fat tissue in health and disease has become evident. In the Kluger lab, the focus is on developing advanced 3D tissue models to better understand diseases and improve testing methods without relying on animals. A particular emphasis is placed on creating models of human skin and fat tissue, including inflamed adipose tissue, which allow us to investigate disease processes such as obesity and diabetes and to evaluate potential treatments directly in the lab.

In parallel, in the Peltzer lab we study how different forms of cell death influence inflammation, metabolism, and tumor development. Cell death is not only a way for the body to remove damaged or infected cells — it also triggers immune responses, shapes tissue regeneration, and influences cancer progression. By uncovering the molecular mechanisms behind these processes, our goal is to advance fundamental understanding and identify new therapeutic strategies.

Results from animal testing cannot always be transferred to the human system, while conventional in vitro approaches lack the structural and functional accuracy, as well as complexity needed for reliable insights into disease mechanisms and treatment responses.

To build functional tissue constructs, our team in the Kluger lab uses 3D bioprinting, a technology that allows us to create complex structures layer by layer. We employ primary human cells — including mature adipocytes, stem cells, and endothelial cells — together with serum- and animal-free culture media and biomaterials. This enables us to develop physiologically relevant adipose tissue models, to model diseases such as obesity and diabetes, and to improve drug testing by incorporating features such as vascularization of the constructs.

Our team in the Peltzer lab combines genetically engineered mouse models with advanced imaging, molecular, and cell biology approaches to investigate how cell death pathways interact with the immune system and metabolism. At the same time, we develop alternative experimental systems such as tissue explants and precision-cut slices to replicate human disease more faithfully while reducing reliance on animal studies.

Whenever possible, we replace or complement animal experiments with ex vivo and in vitro approaches, including human tissue models, tissue explants, and precision-cut slices. In addition, the Kluger lab operates a human primary cell bank to support the development of tissue models. Alongside this, the Peltzer lab maintains a murine tissue bank covering different ages and experimental conditions, and provide access to primary cells derived from animals with defined genetic backgrounds. By sharing these resources internally, we maximize the value of each experiment, reduce the need for new animal studies, and strengthen the collective scientific output. Together, these efforts contribute to advancing basic science while promoting more ethical and sustainable research practices.