Lymphatic Education & Research Network Inc Le&rn

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO FIGHT LYMPHATIC DISEASE AND LYMPHEDEMA THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY. THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO ACCELERATE THE PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND CURE OF LYMPHATIC DISEASES WHILE BRINGING PATIENTS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE UNMET NEEDS SURROUNDING LYMPHATIC DISORDERS.

SOME ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION DURING 2023 INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: LE&RN CONTINUED TO EXPAND PROGRAMS TO MEET THE GOALS OF THE EXPANDED MISSION OF FIGHTING LYMPHATIC DISEASE THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY. LE&RN CONTINUED THE INTERNATIONAL LYMPHATIC DISEASE AND LYMPHEDEMA REGISTRY, A NATIONAL PATIENT REGISTRY, TO STIMULATE RESEARCH AND SUPPORT CLINICAL TRIALS AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT. LE&RN CONTINUED THE INTERNATIONAL LYMPHATIC DISEASE AND LYMPHEDEMA BIOREPOSITORY, PROVIDING BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS TO SERVE AS A SOURCE FOR THE CLINICAL AND LABORATORY STUDY OF LYMPHATIC DISEASES, AND BEGAN SHARING DATA WITH WORLDWIDE DATABASES. LE&RN CONTINUED ITS GRANT PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS YOUNG INVESTIGATORS TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON LYMPHATIC RESEARCH. LE&RN CONTINUED ITS EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS OUTREACH PROGRAMS TARGETING ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, AND THE MEDICAL AND PATIENT COMMUNITIES. LE&RN CONTINUED ITS MONTHLY VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM SERIES, WHICH BRINGS THE WORLD'S FOREMOST AUTHORITIES IN LYMPHATIC DISEASE AND LYMPHEDEMA TO PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND PROFESSIONALS. LE&RN UPDATED ITS WEBSITE AND PROVIDED DAILY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS FEATURING SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE FIELD. LE&RN PRODUCED SIX ISSUES OF LYMPHATIC RESEARCH AND BIOLOGY, AN INTERNATIONAL, PEER-REVIEWEDBIOMEDICAL JOURNAL PROVIDING A FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF CUTTING-EDGE SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS IN LYMPHATIC SCIENCE AND MEDICINE. LE&RN SECURED ONGOING SUPPORT FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL AND NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH FOR LYMPHATIC RESEARCH. LE&RN CONTINUED THE LE&RN/LYMPHNOTES LYMPHEDEMA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TUITION SUPPORT TO THERAPISTS SEEKING CERTIFICATION IN LYMPHEDEMA THERAPY LE&RN CONTINUED A WEB-BASED "ASK THE EXPERTS" FEATURE THAT ALLOWS PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND PROFESSIONALS TO ASK THE MOST PROMINENT AUTHORITIES IN THE FIELD QUESTIONS DIRECTLY. LE&RN SPOKESPERSON AND ACADEMY AWARD WINNER KATHY BATES APPEARED IN PRINT AND TELEVISION MEDIA TO SUPPORT RESEARCH. LE&RN GREW ITS HONORARY BOARD, HEADED BY KATHY BATES AND INCLUDING NOTABLE CELEBRITIES WHO SUPPORT LE&RN'S MISSION. LE&RN'S VIRTUAL EXPO WAS EXPANDED TO BETTER SERVE PATIENTS AND THERAPISTS. LE&RN AND NAVBO PREPARED A BIENNIAL VIRTUAL LYMPHATIC FORUM FOR RESEARCHERS LE&RN DEVELOPED NEW CHAPTERS IN SEVERAL STATES AND COUNTRIES. LE&RN CONTINUED TO LEAD GLOBAL EVENTS RELATED TO ITS HAVING ESTABLISHED WORLD LYMPHEDEMA DAY ON MARCH 6, 2016. LE&RN HOSTED A NATIONAL ACTION WEEK SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LYMPHATIC DISEASES. LE&RN SUPPORTED AND GREW ITS PROGRAM, CREATING THE FIRST-EVER CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN THE DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT OF LYMPHATIC DISEASES. LE&RN, IN COLLABORATION WITH STANFORD UNIVERSITY, HOSTED THE ANNUAL VIRTUAL STATE-OF-THE-ART SUMMIT IN LYMPHATIC RESEARCH & MEDICINE. LE&RN PROMOTED ITS AUTHORED NEW YORK STATE BILL THAT MANDATES HOSPITAL INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE LYMPHEDEMA MATERIALS TO ALL AT-RISK PATIENTS. LE&RN PROMOTED ITS PSA VIDEO FEATURING NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON KATHY BATES, HOSTED ON THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) CANCER-RELATED WEBSITES. LE&RN CONTINUED ITS CANCER-RELATED LYMPHEDEMA CAMPAIGN FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE CDC CHRONIC DISEASE AWARENESS GRANTS PROGRAM. STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION CONTINUED ITS LE&RN GRANT TO FUND ITS CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM. LE&RN SUCCEEDED IN ITS EFFORTS TO HAVE THE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM (CDMRP) INCLUDE LYMPHEDEMA AND LYMPHATIC DISEASES AS CATEGORIES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S PEER REVIEWED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM (PRMRP). LE&RN SUCCEEDED IN ITS EFFORTS TO HAVE CONGRESS REQUEST THAT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) ESTABLISH A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LYMPHATIC DISEASES. LE&RN ESTABLISHED A GLOBAL PATIENT RESOURCE CENTER. LE&RN EXPANDED AND UPDATED ITS GLOBAL PATIENT REGISTRY. LE&RN CREATED THE CDC'S FIRST NATIONAL INDICATOR REPORT ON CANCER-RELATED LYMPHEDEMA. LE&RN SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR A PROGRAM MANAGER IN LYMPHATICS AT THE ADVANCED RESEARCH AGENCY FOR HEALTH (ARPA-H) LE&RN CREATED A "GAPS IN LYMPHATIC RESEARCH" DOCUMENT IN CONCERT WITH THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY, DISTRIBUTED TO NIH, CDC, ARPA-H, CDMRP, NNLBI, AND NIAID.