Lay summary
Chronic pancreatitis is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disease of the pancreas that can lead to life-altering debilitating pain, malnutrition, diabetes, and pancreatic cancer. It is a major health problem in New Zealand and currently there are no effective treatment or preventive measures available. This project will investigate the body’s own drainage system, lymphatic drainage, in chronic pancreatitis working with a mouse model of chronic pancreatitis and human pancreatic tissue. We aim to demonstrate that enhancing lymphatic drainage pharmacologically will decrease inflammation and fibrosis in the pancreas and will be the first time that pancreatic lymphatics have been targeted as potential therapy. The study has the potential to completely change the treatment paradigm of chronic pancreatitis and impact the lives of millions of patients worldwide.