Founded in 1995, Zen-Bio is a leading provider of research tools for the study of human metabolic disease. The company has an established customer base of more than 1,000, and performs contract research for major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies throughout the world. It pioneered tissue engineering with adult adipose-derived stem cells and researches the role obesity plays in the development and onset of metabolic disease. Its mission is to provide the highest quality cells, reagents and contract services to the biomedical research community; to develop and commercialize research tools; and to leverage its expertise in this field into successful treatments for metabolic diseases through research and development and strategic alliances. Zen-Bio is located in Durham, N.C.