How a fish could lead to new hope for treating persistent wounds

Innovation can come from unexpected places. For School of Medicine Professor Michael Tsang and his startup Zegenex, it all started with a fish.

Zebrafish, though small and unassuming, are valued in biomedical research because they share many genetic similarities with humans, are easy to maintain and can be engineered to glow in the presence of certain molecules. That makes them excellent "living sensors," ideal for screening compounds for potential biological effects.

"I just wanted to screen for interesting molecules that could modulate growth factors in zebrafish," said Tsang, who also serves as director of Pitt's Integrative Systems Biology graduate program.

What he found, along with research scientist Manush Saydmohammed, was a molecule that accelerated heart muscle regeneration and resolved scars in zebrafish. The discovery opened the possibility of treating serious medical conditions, particularly those involving tissue repair and wound healing - and set the pair down an entrepreneurial path.

Addressing chronic wounds

Tsang and Saydmohammed saw the potential for their new molecule to address one of the most persistent and challenging problems in healthcare. More than 1.6 million people in the United States have diabetic foot ulcers, and each year, approximately 150,000 undergo amputations when their ulcers fail to heal. The most advanced treatments are out of reach for many patients, especially those on Medicaid or without adequate insurance coverage.

"If we can bring this product out and heal wounds before they reach the amputation stage, we can save a lot of lives and improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of people," said Saydmohammed.

With guidance from the Innovation Institute, part of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) at the University of Pittsburgh, they filed an invention disclosure to protect their intellectual property and partnered with the Innovation Institute to move forward with filing a patent.

They also turned to Pittsburgh's thriving life sciences ecosystem for support. After finding additional support and refining their approach through National Institutes of Health programs, Zegenex was selected to be part of the LifeX Fall Program in 2024. The Pitt-established life sciences capital growth company provided mentorship and resources to help Zegenex transform its laboratory discoveries into a viable commercial product.