Nature Materials, Published online: 05 November 2026; doi:10.1038/s41563-026-02784-3

Predictive human-relevant model systems are outlined in a Review by integrating engineered materials and microenvironments, human tissue and organ models, computational approaches, and closed-loop strategies. Controlling the boundary conditions, biological organization, measurements and model calibration can improve mechanistic insight, reproducibility and translational relevance across applications.