Project Grant R01DK145761

The University of Iowa received a $655,482 Project Grant awarded March 5, 2026, by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847). The grant supports basic biomedical research investigating the role of the Notch signaling pathway in chronic pancreatitis (CP) pathogenesis, with a performance period extending through December 31, 2029. The research focuses on elucidating mechanisms by which activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) drive fibrogenesis and immune dysregulation in CP through Notch pathway activation, with the ultimate objective of identifying novel therapeutic targets for this currently untreatable fibro-inflammatory pancreatic disease.

The deliverables under this award include original research findings from in vitro and in vivo studies examining Notch pathway activation in animal models of CP and human tissue samples, evaluation of therapeutic potential through pharmacological Notch pathway inhibition, and characterization of cell-type-specific roles of Notch signaling in PSCs versus acinar cells. Expected research outputs include peer-reviewed publications, detailed experimental data demonstrating the causal relationship between Notch pathway activation in PSCs and CP severity, and scientific evidence supporting Notch pathway inhibition as a viable therapeutic strategy for chronic pancreatitis—research anticipated to inform future drug development efforts targeting this disease mechanism.