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news.ZenBio, a privately held biotechnology company, has received a $1.88 million Phase II SBIR grant to commercialize primary human peritoneal mesothelial cells.
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The award from the National Institutes of Health will fund continued optimization and commercial development of this unique tool for cancer, obesity, and type 2 diabetes research, said ZenBio.
Mesothelial cells are specialized epithelial cells that line the peritoneal, pleural and pericardial cavities (as well as internal organs), providing a barrier that facilitates movement of organs and tissues. Pleural mesothelial cells are the target cells in asbestos-induced mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelial cells are the attachment points for metastasizing ovarian cancer cells, making them a potential target for cancer therapeutics.
Renee Lea-Currie, ZenBio’s director of cell biology and the principal investigator of the program, said: “Preliminary studies at ZenBio and elsewhere have revealed that mesothelial cells profoundly affect adipocyte function.
“This grant will allow us to dig deeper into the obesity connection while supplying researchers with a validated human cell system for their own discovery efforts.”