Understanding pain in pancreatic disease using biological markers
Biomarkers to stratify pain severity and type in pancreatic disease
This work aims to find biological markers in the blood that can help doctors better understand and treat the severe pain experienced by people with chronic pancreatitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11088757 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people with chronic pancreatitis experience significant pain, but current treatments often don't provide enough relief, partly because we don't have good ways to measure or categorize their pain. This project uses samples from a large group of patients with chronic pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis, and recurrent acute pancreatitis, as well as healthy individuals. By looking at specific substances in their blood, we hope to identify new markers that can tell us more about the severity and type of pain a person is experiencing. This information could help doctors choose more effective pain management strategies tailored to each patient.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is relevant to patients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis, or recurrent acute pancreatitis who experience pain.
Not a fit: Patients without pancreatic disease or those not experiencing pain related to these conditions would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways for doctors to understand and treat pain in patients with pancreatic disease, potentially improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: While the need for pain biomarkers in chronic pancreatitis is well-recognized, this specific approach to stratify pain based on severity and type using a large prospective cohort is a novel and important step.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Steen, Hanno — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Steen, Hanno
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.