An international effort

Composed of 26 sites throughout the world, the INSPPIRE group was formed to research ways to better diagnose, evaluate and treat pediatric pancreatitis.

Formed in 2009 and consisting of pediatric gastroenterologists, radiologists, endocrinologists, INSPPIRE is the first multinational, multi-center effort to systematically characterize pediatric pancreatitis.

The pancreas performs important functions by aiding in digestion and helping to regulate blood sugar. Pancreatitis causes abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Children with pancreatitis often miss school, they are hospitalized, have frequent emergency room visits, and require pain management.

Recent studies, have shown that the number children who experience pancreatitis has increased, and children now contract the disease almost as often as adults.

Preliminary data from INSPPIRE study show that pediatric pancreatitis differs from adult pancreatitis, “So it is imperative that we, as pediatricians, do not continue to draw our information from the adult literature,” said Dr. Aliye Uc, professor of pediatrics, pediatric gastroenterologist, the Director of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pancreatology, and Nutrition Division, and the lead Principle Investigator of the INternational Study Group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In search for a cuRE (INSPPIRE) project.