# Predicting Severity and Improving the Outcomes of Pediatric Pancreatitis

> **NIH NIH K23** · CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR · 2020 · $189,292

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The incidence of pediatric Acute Pancreatitis (AP) has been rising to 1/10,000 cases, close to adult incidence.
AP in pediatrics remains understudied with outcomes poorly defined. Previous studies in pediatric AP are
mostly single-centered and retrospective in nature, and thereby insufficient for understanding the natural
history. A high percentage (15-30%) of patients develop severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with increased
morbidity, increased length of hospital stay and cost. To date, there is no pediatric AP study that examines
progression prospectively like we plan through our design, there is no validated pediatric prognostic severity
system to improve outcomes of AP. Diabetes can result from AP in a subset of patients, and that leads to
increased morbidity especially if underdiagnosed, given that there is no current method for screening post AP.
The primary goal of my proposed career development is to acquire additional comprehensive training in
biostatistics, study design, epidemiology and outcome research through risk modeling, to acquire the skills
necessary to build multicenter collaborations to study AP risk stratification and management that lead to the
improved outcomes and decreased morbidity and mortality.
I am an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and a board certified Gastroenterologist in the Division of
Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition in the Department of Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Medical Center (CCHMC). CCHMC is committed to improving the health outcomes of children through
innovative research. The exceptional environment at CCHMC facilitates the development of young
investigators by having essential elements through core resources, expert mentorship, as well as the potential
for internal collaboration. The pancreas Care Center at CCHMC is one of only a few pediatric pancreas centers
in the United States and has an established referral pattern, with 70-90 new patients referred per year. My
mentors Dr. Lee A. Denson- a nationally recognized leader in pediatric gastroenterology, Dr. Sohail Husain- a
national expert and scientist in pediatric pancreatology, Dr. Woo- an expert in epidemiology and outcome
research are invested in my training and guiding my path to be an independent investigators. The primary
objective of this project is to improve outcomes of AP by decreasing SAP and improve screening for
prediabetes. This will be accomplished through our prospective longitudinal study design. Specific Aim 1 to
validate and optimize our previously generated SAP model by adding more factors, applying the new SAP
definition, incorporating therapy effect, and incorporating MMPs and TIMPs as novel biomarkers. Specific Aim
2 to build a model to predict prediabetes post AP and understand the role of expanded gene testing in disease
progression to prediabetes. Our proposal will help us better understand SAP and progression to prediabetes to
fill the knowledge gap. Successful completion ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9929577
- **Project number:** 5K23DK118190-03
- **Recipient organization:** CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Maisam Abu-El-Haija
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $189,292
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-17 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9929577

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9929577, Predicting Severity and Improving the Outcomes of Pediatric Pancreatitis (5K23DK118190-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9929577. Licensed CC0.

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