During National Pancreas Awareness Month, the VCU Health Hume Lee Transplant Center is bringing attention to its long standing leadership in Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Cell Autotransplantation, known as TP IAT, a rare and highly complex operation that offers meaningful relief for people living with chronic pancreatitis. More than a quarter million people in the United States are affected by pancreatitis, and when the condition becomes chronic it often turns into a persistent source of severe pain that can disrupt day to day life. This growing burden highlights why advanced surgical options like TP IAT are so important.
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Only a small number of centers across the country have the expertise, facilities and specialized teams needed to safely perform TP IAT. The procedure removes the damaged pancreas while collecting the patient’s own insulin producing cells so they can be transplanted back into the body. With more than one hundred completed procedures, the Hume Lee Transplant Center is recognized as one of the most experienced programs in the nation and frequently receives referrals from across the East Coast. The National Pancreas Foundation has named Hume Lee a Center of Excellence, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted destination for patients seeking advanced pancreatic care.
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Aamir Khan, MD, who serves as medical director and surgical lead for the TP IAT program, explained that the operation can make an enormous difference for individuals who have tried every available therapy but still suffer every day. Dr. Khan said that the center’s experience helps patients get through a demanding surgery more safely and gives many the chance to return to a life that is no longer controlled by chronic pain.
The success of the program is supported by the center’s close collaboration between clinical care and laboratory science. The islet cell lab, led by Mazhar Kanak, PhD, is equipped to carefully isolate and prepare each patient’s islet cells for transplantation. The lab has been recognized as an Islet Isolation Center through the Integrated Islet Distribution Program, a rare distinction held by only a few labs in the country. Dr. Kanak shared that this recognition allows the team to support national research in islet biology and diabetes while improving patient outcomes through precise and individualized care.
For patients who qualify, TP IAT can ease pain, reduce the need for opioid medications and help maintain stable blood sugar levels. Each patient is supported by a broad multidisciplinary team that includes specialists in gastroenterology, surgery, endocrinology, pancreas focused radiology and advanced endoscopy. This team based approach ensures that every patient receives thorough guidance and care throughout the entire treatment process.
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