Professor Anna Dowbaj is leveraging sophisticated liver organoid models, known as assembloids, to unravel how the liver ages and why its ability to regenerate diminishes over time. These miniature tissues incorporate hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and mesenchymal cells, enabling them to closely mimic the structure and function of the liver’s periportal region, a critical area involved in bile transport and commonly affected in liver disease.

Since joining the TUM School of Life Sciences in 2025 as Professor of Integrated Organoid Systems, Dowbaj has focused on the cellular communication that governs tissue regeneration. Her research explores how signals exchanged between regenerative and supporting cells influence repair processes and how these interactions change with age.

Earlier studies conducted at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics revealed that direct contacts between bile duct cells and neighboring mesenchymal cells help regulate cell proliferation, ensuring balanced tissue renewal. Building on these findings, Dowbaj now uses assembloids composed of cells from different biological ages to identify mechanisms that drive aging and regenerative decline.

As the liver is essential for metabolism, detoxification, and protein production, preserving its function may have broad benefits for overall health during aging. Beyond liver biology, Dowbaj aims to extend these organoid-based approaches to other tissues, including the colon and small intestine, and to investigate how different organs communicate to maintain health across the body.

Source: https://www.tum.de/en/news-and-events/all-news/press-releases/details/using-mini-organs-to-better-understand-aging