Understanding inherited pancreatitis

Mechanisms of Hereditary Pancreatitis

NIH-funded research Mayo Clinic Jacksonville · NIH-11321534

Researchers are using new mouse models that carry human gene changes to learn how inherited pancreatitis starts and why it raises cancer risk for people with PRSS1 mutations.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMayo Clinic Jacksonville NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Jacksonville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11321534 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

The team created mice that carry the human PRSS1R122H mutation and PRSS2 to mimic hereditary pancreatitis and watched how the disease starts and progresses. They compare animals with one versus two mutant copies and measure how different levels and locations of trypsinogen activity trigger acute and chronic pancreatitis. They also test how low versus high doses of a pancreas stimulant produce different types of pancreatic injury. Findings aim to reveal molecular steps that could become targets for future treatments or prevention in people with hereditary pancreatitis.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with a known PRSS1 mutation or a strong family history of hereditary pancreatitis would be the most relevant candidates to follow this research or join related future studies.

Not a fit: People whose pancreatitis is caused by non-genetic factors or different genes may not directly benefit from findings focused on PRSS1-driven disease.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to targets for therapies or prevention that reduce pancreatitis attacks and lower pancreatic cancer risk in people with hereditary pancreatitis.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier attempts to make animal models of hereditary pancreatitis had limited success, so this new mouse model showing spontaneous disease is relatively novel and promising.

Where this research is happening

Jacksonville, 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.
Conditions DiseaseDisorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 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.