Understanding how immune and epithelial cells interact during acute pancreatitis
Official title: Epithelial-immune cell crosstalk during injury and recovery in acute pancreatitis
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10979149 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how immune cells and pancreatic cells work together during acute pancreatitis to help the tissue heal, focusing on a special protein called interleukin-22, and it’s aimed at finding better ways to treat this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | December 22, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $396,914 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK128102-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10979149 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have been diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, particularly those experiencing severe symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic pancreatitis or those who do not have an active episode of acute pancreatitis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the interactions between immune cells and epithelial cells in the pancreas during acute pancreatitis, a serious inflammatory condition. It aims to understand how these cells communicate and how this communication affects tissue repair and recovery. The study will explore the role of specific cytokines, particularly interleukin-22, in protecting pancreatic tissue and promoting healing. By using animal models, researchers will examine the effects of these interactions on the severity of the disease and potential therapeutic approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that enhance recovery from acute pancreatitis and reduce the risk of severe complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding immune responses in gastrointestinal conditions, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frankel, Timothy Louis — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Frankel, Timothy Louis
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Diabetes after acute pancreatitis: understanding and tracking progression
A patient-focused look at how diabetes can develop after an episode of acute pancreatitis, using data from a large, ongoing study and AI insights.
-
Continuation of Type 1 Diabetes in Acute Pancreatitis: UF Health and AdventHealth
A patient-facing overview of a long-term study tracking people with acute pancreatitis to understand how some develop type 1 diabetes later and what factors influence that process.
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Data Coordinating Center for Type 1 Diabetes in Acute Pancreatitis Consortium
A national effort to learn how pancreatitis-related Type 1 diabetes develops, by tracking patients and coordinating data to improve future care.
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Diabetes after acute pancreatitis: a patient-focused network study
A program at Indiana University is studying how diabetes can develop after an acute pancreatitis episode, with new findings that could help doctors tailor care for adults who had pancreatitis.
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Type 1 Diabetes in Acute Pancreatitis in Diabetes Patients at Stanford
A Stanford-led project helps people with brittle type 1 diabetes who also experience pancreatitis by following them in a long-term study to understand how acute pancreatitis affects diabetes.
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Epidemiology and causes of diabetes after acute pancreatitis
A long-term study following people who have had acute pancreatitis to understand how often diabetes develops, why it happens, and how it progresses.
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.