Systematic Identification and Preclinical Targeting of Novel Mediators of Pain in Pancreatitis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ihsan Ekin Demir
• Subject Area: General and Visceral Surgery
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 556456803

Abdominal pain due to chronic pancreatitis (CP) and acute pancreatitis (AP) represents a major clinical challenge. Current analgesics are either inadequate or, in the case of strong opioids, tend to result in opioid dependence or severe side effects. Despite advances in understanding the peripheral, i.e. H. Intrapancreatic mediators and pain mechanisms in CP and AP, the sensory neuronal pain mechanisms in these diseases are poorly understood. The present study will therefore systematically analyze and reveal the molecular changes in the pancreatic innervating sensory neurons (dorsal root ganglia/DRG and gangion nodosum/NG) in the established, painful, cerulein-induced mouse models of CP and AP. We will compare these changes with an autochthonous, genetically modified mouse model in which CP is characterized by organ atrophy but does not result in obvious pain or mechanical sensitivity. We will functionally & mechanistically analyze the significance of these molecular changes in sensory neurons. Finally, we will examine these novel analgesic mediators for their therapeutic potential in the first pre-clinical studies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants