Understanding how pancreatic cells change after injury
A multi-modality approach to decode epithelial heterogeneity and function in metaplasia
This work aims to understand how cells in the pancreas transform after an injury, which could help us learn more about how the body heals and how diseases develop.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11125841 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When the pancreas is injured, its cells can change from one type to another, a process called metaplasia. This particular type of change, called acinar to ductal metaplasia (ADM), is thought to play a role in how the tissue regenerates. Our team is creating new tools to explore these cell changes, identify the different types of cells that emerge, and discover their roles in healing after an injury. By combining advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing and electron microscopy, we hope to build a detailed map of these cellular transformations. This deeper understanding is crucial for developing new ways to address pancreatic conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant to individuals with pancreatic conditions or those at risk for diseases involving cell changes in the pancreas.
Not a fit: Patients without conditions related to pancreatic cell changes or injury would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a better understanding of how pancreatic diseases develop and progress, potentially paving the way for new treatments.
How similar studies have performed: This work builds upon the principal investigator's recent discoveries identifying new cell populations that form in the pancreas after injury.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Delgiorno, Kathleen Elizabeth — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Delgiorno, Kathleen Elizabeth
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.