Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Institute (HPBI), Research Division

Mission Statement

HPBI is a clinical research division within the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery group at St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP).  Established in 2025 through the generous support of St. Peter’s Health Partners Center for Philanthropy, the HPBI aims to improve the lives of patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HPB) conditions through research initiatives that advance surgical treatment and management of these diseases.

Led by Dr. Jason Heckman, a hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and general surgeon, the HPBI is focused on:

• Expanding SPHP’s portfolio of clinical trials for hepatobiliary and pancreatic patients.
• Creating an infrastructure for continued growth and development of research projects, including student, resident, and post-graduate research partnerships.
• Providing enhanced support and treatment education for patients and families.
• Cultivating a culture of knowledge building and innovation for SPHP’s hepatobiliary and pancreatic care team, including doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and staff.

The HPBI program builds upon SPHP’s advanced care and surgical treatment of HPB conditions. Our goal is to continue to provide the safest, high-quality care for our patients and to support them as they navigate the complex disease processes of the HPB system. Our research translates into our clinical care, leading to more treatment options for those we serve.

Areas of Research

Active member and contributing institution to these clinical research registries: 

• National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP)
• PANcreas Consortium for Prognostication, Advancement, and Long-term Strategies in Pancreatic Neoplasms (PANC-PALS)
• HAI Consortium Research Network (HCRN)

HPBI Team

• Medical Director: Jason Heckman, MD, FACS
• Clinical Research Manager: Damen Schaak, BS

For more information email us at: HPBI@sphp.com