Tuft cells help the pancreas heal by a Type 2 immune circuit
Official title: Tuft cells resolve pancreatic injury through a Type 2 Immune circuit
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11447048 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Vanderbilt aims to understand how special pancreatic tuft cells help repair injury and prevent progression from chronic pancreatitis to cancer, with potential to guide new therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $780,890 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK145538-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447048 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with chronic pancreatitis or a history of pancreatic injury who may donate tissue or participate in related studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without pancreatic disease or those unable to participate in tissue studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how chronic pancreatitis damages the pancreas and how tuft cells in the pancreas might launch a protective Type 2 immune response to promote healing. By studying how acinar cells change into ductal-like cells and how tuft cells secrete healing signals, researchers hope to identify new ways to prevent cancer development. The study will analyze human pancreatic tissue and use models to map the immune signaling pathways that drive repair. If successful, the findings could point to targets for treatments that enhance natural healing and reduce cancer risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies that protect the pancreas from chronic damage and lower the risk of pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown tuft cells influence Type 2 immunity in other tissues, suggesting potential for novel pancreatic therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Delgiorno, Kathleen Elizabeth — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Delgiorno, Kathleen Elizabeth
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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.