Engineered stem cell therapy for chronic pancreatitis pain
Official title: hAAT-engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Chronic Pain
Funded at Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center · NIH-11206901 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses modified stem cells that make a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin to try to reduce long-lasting pain from chronic pancreatitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2019 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX004536-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11206901 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with long-term pain from chronic pancreatitis, especially veterans interested in future stem-cell based treatment options, would be the most relevant candidates for follow-up clinical work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose chronic pain is unrelated to pancreatic inflammation or neuropathic mechanisms are less likely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are using mesenchymal stem/stromal cells that have been engineered to produce human alpha-1 antitrypsin (hAAT) and testing them in a mouse model of chronic pancreatitis. In mice, these cells have reduced pain behaviors, lowered the number of mast cells in the pancreas, and reduced inflammatory signals in nearby nerve cells called dorsal root ganglia. The team aims to map how pancreatic inflammation talks to nerves and causes long-term pain so they can identify targets for new treatments. Although the current work is in animals, the goal is to apply what is learned to help veterans and others with chronic pancreatic pain and potentially other inflammation-driven chronic pain conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments that lessen chronic pancreatitis pain and inform therapies for other inflammation-related chronic pain.
How similar studies have gone: Other preclinical studies using unmodified mesenchymal stem cells have shown reductions in inflammation and pain in animals, but using hAAT-engineered MSCs is a newer strategy still mainly tested in animal models.
Where this research is happening
-
Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Hongjun — Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wang, Hongjun
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Motor cortex tricks to ease chronic pain
A study in rodents and people tests whether non-invasive brain stimulation of the motor cortex can reduce chronic pain and how best to target it.
-
Human pain center study to map normal and migraine-trigeminal neurons
A large NIH-funded project will map and study the human trigeminal neurons involved in migraines to understand what changes in these cells during headache conditions.
-
Understanding human pain neurons to improve migraine care
Researchers are studying human pain-sensing neurons to uncover what makes migraine start and persist, with the goal of better treatments for people who experience migraines.
-
Whole Person Pain Algorithm to personalize chronic pain care
A new, evidence-based model helps explain why chronic low back pain affects people differently and could guide personalized diagnosis and treatment.
-
Understanding how to use pharmacogenomic testing to guide chronic pain care
This grant looks at how doctors who treat long‑term pain decide when and how to use genetic testing to tailor pain medicines for safer and more effective care.
-
Mindfulness and Self-Hypnosis for Pain in Older Adults
This grant tests non-drug ways like mindfulness and self-hypnosis to help people over 60 manage chronic pain.
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.