Advancing stem cell therapies and novel compounds for peripheral nerve health.
Innovative Solutions for Neuropathy Care and Research
Advancing stem cell therapies and novel compounds for peripheral nerve health.
Our mission
At NeelaCellTx, our mission is to help patients with peripheral neuropathy live better lives and give researchers the tools they need to discover new treatments.
Why it matters
Peripheral neuropathy is a common nerve disorders, affecting up to 8% of the global population and more than 35 million Americans. It often develops in people with diabetes, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and adults over 40. Symptoms range from chronic pain and numbness to more serious complications like difficulty walking, amputations, erectile dysfunction and more. Despite how common and serious it is, there are still no FDA-approved drugs to treat it.
Our approach
We’re tackling this problem with two complementary strategies:
· Pillar A: A new treatment option
We’re developing genipin, a first-in-class compound that shows promise as a treatment for peripheral neuropathy. Our goal is to advance it into first-in-human clinical trials.
· Pillar B: Cellular tools for researchers
To speed up drug discovery across the field, we produce peripheral neurons from human pluripotent stem cells. These lab-grown neurons allow researchers to better model diseases and test therapies. Our portfolio includes:
Sensory neurons (mechanoreceptors and dorsal root ganglia-like neurons)
Sympathetic neurons
Parasympathetic neurons
By combining drug development with cutting-edge research tools, NeelaCellTx is uniquely positioned to transform care for patients living with peripheral neuropathy.
Our Team
At Neela Cell Therapeutics, we have assembled a team of talented and dedicated professionals, who are passionate about improving healthcare through biotechnology. Our team includes scientists, researchers and business professionals, all of whom bring unique skills and perspectives to our work.
Founder
Nadja Zeltner, PhD, founder
Dr. Zeltner is an Associate professor at the Center for Molecular Medicine, the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Department of Cellular Biology at the University of Georgia. She has employed human pluripotent stem cell technology for over 20 years to study various human disorders with the overall goal to advance treatment options for patients. Dr. Zeltner completed her undergraduate studies and Master in Zoology at the University of of Zurich, Switzerland. She received her PhD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Linden, were she focused on gene therapy approaches. She then trained in Dr. Lorenz Studer's lab at the Sloan Kettering Institute, where she gained knowledge in stem cell technology and the study of the peripheral nervous system. Her lab is focusing on the study of the peripheral nervous system and the adrenal gland.
Scientific advisors
Funding
Georgia Research Alliance
Entrepreneurship Award. FY 2025 Award #GRA.25.065.UGA.01.a
NSF iCORPS
Customer discovery award. Award Number (FAIN): 2531097