PKD1 protein's role in turning acute pancreatitis into chronic pancreatitis
Protein Kinase D1 as a switch from acute to chronic pancreatitis
Seeing if blocking a protein called PKD1 can stop acute pancreatitis from turning into chronic pancreatitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Jacksonville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jacksonville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321526 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research examines how PKD1 in pancreatic acinar cells changes the local tissue and immune environment in ways that may prevent recovery from acute pancreatitis. The team will use acinar cell–targeted animal models to reproduce acute and chronic disease features such as inflammation, fibrosis, and loss of acinar cells. Investigators will change PKD1 activity in those models to see whether lowering PKD1 reduces the signals that keep inflammation and scarring going. If promising, PKD inhibitors will be tested in living models to determine whether blocking PKD1 can prevent or reverse chronic pancreatic changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recent recurrent acute pancreatitis or early-stage chronic pancreatitis would be the most relevant candidates for future therapies based on these findings, although this project is preclinical and does not currently enroll patients.
Not a fit: People without pancreatitis or those with late-stage irreversible pancreatic scarring are unlikely to receive direct benefit from these preclinical experiments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that prevent acute pancreatitis from progressing to chronic disease, reducing long-term pain, loss of pancreatic function, and cancer risk.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting signaling proteins to reduce inflammation and fibrosis has shown promise in other conditions, but applying PKD1 inhibitors to prevent chronic pancreatitis is relatively new and has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Jacksonville, United States
- Mayo Clinic Jacksonville — Jacksonville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Storz, Peter — Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
- Study coordinator: Storz, Peter
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 below.