Ohio Kentucky Pancreatitis Research Center (OKPRC) to advance the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis

Project Summary / Abstract The mechanistic underpinnings of diseases involving the exocrine pancreas are poorly understood. Chronic pancreatitis is often accompanied by inflammation of the pancreas, irreversible fibrosis, and destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma resulting in abdominal pain, malnutrition, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, diabetes, and, in some cases, pancreas cancer. Our Clinical Center (Ohio Kentucky Pancreatitis Research Center (OKPRC)) is interested in continuing our efforts to continue leading and supporting the research infrastructure of the Chronic Pancreatitis Clinical Research Consortium to conduct longitudinal clinical research to address the many knowledge gaps related to chronic pancreatitis. We propose a series of hypothesis driven studies to: 1) validate the use of a novel biomarker for diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 2) understand nutritional and metabolic alterations in chronic pancreatitis, and 3) advance clinical trials for chronic pancreatitis. First, we aim to complete a phase 2 (validation) biomarker study of circulating NGAL for diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, considering applications to both rule-in and rule-out the disease. In regard to nutritional alterations, we will conduct novel analyses of dietary patterns in participants with chronic pancreatitis to identify associations with disease-related complications and identify potential opportunities for a dietary intervention. We will extend initial analyses regarding the use of a pancreatic hormone (pancreatic polypeptide) as a diagnostic marker of diabetes in the setting of chronic pancreatitis. We will also evaluate for genetic risk in chronic pancreatitis for the development of osteopathy. Lastly, we describe two clinical trials that are in progress to illustrate the strengths of our collaborative team, and opportunities to improve the efficiency of future clinical trials. Altogether, we aim to contribute to the collaborative environment of the Consortium to accomplish these (and other) studies to improve our ability to diagnose and treat chronic pancreatitis.