Using pigs to improve treatments for esophageal diseases
Official title: Porcine Related apprOach to Multidisciplinary cOllaborative Translational ModEl Research (PROMOTER)
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11088958 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is using pigs to help us learn more about esophageal diseases like achalasia and acid reflux, so we can find better treatments for people who have these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $768,064 |
| NIH project number | 1RC2TR005123-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088958 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from esophageal diseases such as achalasia, acid reflux, or Barrett's esophagus.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-esophageal related digestive disorders or those who do not have any esophageal diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing and utilizing large animal models, specifically pigs, to better understand and treat esophageal diseases. By leveraging the anatomical and physiological similarities between pig and human esophagi, researchers aim to create a comprehensive toolbox for studying conditions like achalasia and acid reflux. The approach allows for non-invasive tissue sampling and long-term observation, which can lead to significant advancements in therapeutic strategies. The goal is to translate findings from these models into effective treatments for patients suffering from esophageal disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new, effective treatments for esophageal diseases that currently lack approved therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using large animal models has shown promise in other areas of medicine, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights for esophageal diseases as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dellon, Evan Samuel — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Dellon, Evan Samuel
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.