Scaling up production of human milk oligosaccharides to support gut health and immune protection
Official title: Scaling-up flow processes for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of a sialylated glycan
Funded at Zymtronix Catalytic Systems, INC. · NIH-11394588 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant funds a project to make more of certain human milk sugar molecules in a scalable way so they can be used in infant formula and treatments for allergic and autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Zymtronix Catalytic Systems, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 7, 2019 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $201,770 |
| NIH project number | 5R44GM134847-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394588 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with allergic or autoimmune conditions, including infants and adults who may benefit from HMO-based interventions or formula supplements.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to HMOs or without conditions that could be helped by these specific HMOs may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
The project aims to use cell-free biomanufacturing with multi-enzyme immobilization to produce key human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in larger quantities. Researchers hope these HMOs will help reduce gut inflammation, support immune balance, and lower infection risks, potentially benefiting both infants and adults with allergic or autoimmune conditions. The work builds on prior Phase I successes and focuses on improving production efficiency so HMOs can be more widely studied and used. The approach involves industrial-scale biomanufacturing hardware and processes at ZYMTRONIX to create defined HMOs for testing in relevant models and, later, human use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could enable broader access to HMO-based ingredients for safer infant formulas and therapies that support gut health and modulate immune responses in allergic and autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed HMOs have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects and Phase I demonstrated production of several HMOs; Phase II aims to scale production further.
Where this research is happening
-
Zymtronix Catalytic Systems, INC.
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corgie, Stephane Cedric — Zymtronix Catalytic Systems, INC.
- Study coordinator: Corgie, Stephane Cedric
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.