Persista Bio, a Center for Life Science Ventures client, was awarded a $65,000 FuzeHub Manufacturing Grant that will add the capability to manufacture custom cell capsules as the company explores a range of cell therapy treatments.
The technology aims to provide an alternative to conventional treatments for chronic conditions such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), for which existing treatments can leave patients on lifetime immunosuppressants, with costs and additional health concerns multiplying over time.
Specifically, Persista Bio is developing a fully implantable membrane encapsulation system that holds and supports therapeutic cells designed to provide long-term treatment. Since T1D patients have low-to-zero function in their pancreas, this system is designed to mimic the blood sugar regulation process over the long term without suppressing immune system function.
The $65,000 grant will help Persista Bio continue advancing its long-term cell implant with the goal of allowing T1D patients to live more normally while improving day-to-day quality of life, reducing costs over time, and addressing the long-term health implications of the condition and its treatment.
Persista Bio was one of ten collaborative project awardees selected from a record-breaking pool of 59 applicants for FuzeHub’s 2026 Manufacturing Grants.
With this grant, Persista Bio will also be able to expand its cell therapy technology to explore treatments for conditions including metabolic diseases, hormone and enzyme replacement, chronic pain, and inflammatory conditions. The continued development of this technology could help advance the future of cell therapy solutions and expand access to new approaches for treating chronic conditions.