Protein markers to help predict pain after pancreas removal with islet autotransplant

Protein biomarkers to predict pain outcomes after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-11128552

This will look for proteins in blood or urine that help tell which people with chronic pancreatitis may get pain relief after removing the pancreas and transplanting their own islets.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11128552 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be hearing about research that uses blood and urine samples taken before surgery to find protein signals linked to pain outcomes after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant (TPIAT). The team will compare people who had big pain improvements one year after TPIAT with those who still had persistent pain, using samples and clinical data from the large multicenter POST study. They will test patterns of proteins in plasma and urine to find biomarkers that differ between responders and non-responders. The work uses an existing biorepository and detailed clinical follow-up, so results aim to be tied directly to patients' pain and quality-of-life changes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with chronic pancreatitis who are considering total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant (TPIAT) or who were enrolled in the POST study are the best fit for this research.

Not a fit: People without chronic pancreatitis, whose pain comes from other conditions, or who already had TPIAT are unlikely to benefit from these findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors predict who is likely to get lasting pain relief from TPIAT and guide treatment decisions to avoid unnecessary surgery.

How similar studies have performed: Prior work from the team and others suggests blood or urine biomarkers can distinguish pain types in chronic pancreatitis, but applying them to predict TPIAT outcomes is a newer application.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.