New Approaches to Infection Research: Organs-on-a-Chip Offer Choice to Animal Testing
October 23, 2025 – Researchers are developing innovative “organ-on-a-chip” technology as a replacement for animal testing in infection and inflammation research. These biochips, barely larger than microscope slides, contain tiny cavities and channels where human cells – including intestinal mucosa, lung alveoli, and liver cells, along with immune cells – can be grown and studied. fluid flows through the channels, mimicking circulation and creating living, miniature models of human organs.
Professor Dr. Alexander Mosig, a biochemist and molecular biologist, recently took on the newly established professorship for animal testing replacement methods at Jena University Hospital. He explains, “With our biochips we can recreate infections and the associated inflammatory and immune processes in a controlled manner.”
Mosig’s research aims to create more precise,human-relevant models for studying disease. “Many questions have so far been investigated in animal models as we lack suitable alternatives,” he states.”But in the interest of the patients, we wont to recreate human disease processes in the laboratory as realistically as possible. This is the only way we can better understand disease mechanisms and predict the effects of medications on an individual basis.”
His team is currently using these chip models to investigate molecular processes in pneumonia and intestinal diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi, with a particular focus on microorganism-human interactions and the microbiome’s influence on the immune system. The microfluidic chips developed by his research group are patent-protected and are now commercially available through the Jena startup Dynamic42.
Prior to this appointment, Mosig earned his doctorate in jena, led projects at the Center for Sepsis and Sepsis Consequences at the UKJ, and received awards including the Thuringian and federal Animal welfare Research Prizes. He chose to remain in Jena despite a professorship offer from the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf.
Mosig is actively involved in teaching biochemistry and the research-oriented line of the Jena medical course. He also plans to expand 3R research (replace, Reduce, Refine) at the university hospital, offering workshops and training to support researchers in adopting modern alternatives like stem cell models and organ-on-chip systems. “We would like to support researchers in Jena in using modern alternatives…and want to work with colleagues to develop suitable methods for their respective research questions,” he concludes.
Why, Who, What, and How did it end?
Why: The research is being conducted to develop more accurate, human-relevant models for studying infection and inflammation, ultimately aiming to reduce reliance on animal testing and improve understanding of disease mechanisms and drug efficacy.
who: Professor Dr. Alexander Mosig, a biochemist and molecular biologist, is leading the research at Jena University Hospital. His team, along with the startup Dynamic42, are key players.
What: Researchers are creating “organ-on-a-chip” technology – microfluidic chips containing human cells that mimic the function of human organs – to study infections and immune responses. These chips are being used to investigate pneumonia and intestinal diseases.
How did it end? The article concludes with Mosig’s commitment to expanding 3R research (replace, Reduce, Refine) at the university hospital, offering training and support to colleagues in adopting these new technologies. He intends to foster collaboration and develop tailored methods
