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.

THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION DURING 2021 INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:1) LE&RN CONTINUED TO EXPAND PROGRAMS TO MEET THE GOALS OF THE EXPANDED MISSION OF FIGHTING LYMPHATIC DISEASE AND LYMPHEDEMA THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY. 2) LE&RN CONTINUED THE INTERNATIONAL LYMPHATIC DISEASE AND LYMPHEDEMA REGISTRY, A NATIONAL PATIENT REGISTRY TO STIMULATE RESEARCH AND SUPPORT CLINICAL TRIALS AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT.3) 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.4) LE&RN CONTINUED ITS GRANT PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS YOUNG INVESTIGATORS TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON LYMPHATIC RESEARCH.6) LE&RN CONTINUED ITS EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS OUTREACH PROGRAMS TARGETING ACADEMIA, GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, AND THE MEDICAL AND PATIENT COMMUNITIES.7) 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.8) LE&RN UPDATED ITS WEBSITE AND PROVIDED DAILY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS FEATURING MAJOR EVENTS IN THE FIELD.9) LE&RN PRODUCED SIX ISSUES OF LYMPHATIC RESEARCH AND BIOLOGY, AN INTERNATIONAL, PEER-REVIEWED BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL PROVIDING THE FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF CUTTING-EDGE SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS IN LYMPHATIC SCIENCE AND MEDICINE.10)LE&RN SECURED ONGOING CONGRESSIONAL AND NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH SUPPORT FOR LYMPHATIC RESEARCH. 11)LE&RN CONTINUED THE LE&RN/LYMPHNOTES LYMPHEDEMA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TUITION SUPPORT TO THERAPISTS SEEKING CERTIFICATION IN LYMPHEDEMA THERAPY.12)LE&RN CONTINUED A WEB BASED "ASK THE EXPERTS" FEATURE THAT ALLOWS PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS TO DIRECTLY ASK QUESTIONS TO THE MOST PROMINENT AUTHORITIES IN THE FIELD. 13)LE&RN SPOKESPERSON, ACADEMY AWARD WINNER KATHY BATES, APPEARED IN BOTH PRINT AND TELEVISION MEDIA TO SUPPORT RESEARCH.14)LE&RN GREW ITS HONORARY BOARD, HEADED BY KATHY BATES AND INCLUDING NOTABLE CELEBRITIES WHO SUPPORT LE&RN'S MISSION.15)LE&RN'S VIRTUAL EXPO WAS EXPANDED TO BETTER SERVE PATIENTS AND THERAPISTS.16)LE&RN AND NAVBO PREPARED THE 2021 VIRTUAL LYMPHATIC FORUM FOR RESEARCHERS TO BE HELD IN JUNE 2021 IN COLLABORATION WITH GEORGIA TECH AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.17)LE&RN DEVELOPED NEW CHAPTERS IN SEVERAL STATES AND COUNTRIES.18)LE&RN'S ESTABLISH WORLD LYMPHEDEMA DAY ON MARCH 6 CELEBRATED ITS FIFTH YEAR WITH CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS WORLDWIDE. AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE ALLOWS EVENTS WORLDWIDE TO BE POSTED.19)LE&RN HOSTED ITS THIRD NATIONAL ACTION WEEK SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LYMPHATIC DISEASES. 20)LE&RN CONTINUED THE FIRST-EVER CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN THE DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT OF LYMPHATIC DISEASES, WHICH WAS AWARDED TO THIRTY-FIVE INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD.21)LE&RN, IN COLLABORATION WITH STANFORD UNIVERSITY, HOSTED THE FIRST GLOBAL VIRTUAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE SUMMIT ATTENDED BY OVER SEVEN-HUNDRED WORLDWIDE.22)LE&RN PROMOTED ITS AUTHORED NEW YORK STATE BILL THAT MANDATES HOSPITAL INSTITUTION TO PROVIDE LYMPHEDEMA MATERIALS TO ALL AT-RISK PATIENTS.23)LE&RN PROMOTED ITS PSA VIDEO FEATURING NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON KATHY BATES, WHICH IS HOSTED ON THE CENTERS OF DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) CANCER-RELATED WEBSITES.24)LR&RN WAS AWARDED THE FIRST OF THE CDC CHRONIC DISEASE AWARNESS GRANTS TO MOUNT A CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON LYMPHEDEMA PREVENTION AND CARE.25)LE&RN WAS AWARDED A TWO-YEAR STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION GRANT TO FUNDITS CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE PROOGRAM.26)LE&RN PRODUCED THE FIRST-EVER PLAY ABOUT LYMPHEDEMA (LET'S TALK LYMPHEDEMA) IN A VIRTUAL PRODUCTION THAT AIRED ON WORLD LYMPHEDEMA DAY MARCH 6TH.