LYMPHATIC EDUCATION & RESEARCH NETWORK INC (LE&RN)

Some activities of the organization during 2025 include 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 its grant program, which allows young investigators to attend conferences 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'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 establishment of World Lymphedema Day on March 6, 2016. LE&RN supported and grew its Centers of Excellence in the Diagnosis & Treatment of Lymphatic Diseases to 80 member institutions in over 20 countries. LE&RN, in collaboration with Stanford University, hosted the annual virtual State-of-the-Art Summit in Lymphatic Research & Medicine. LE&RN promoted its PSA video featuring National Spokesperson Kathy Bates, which was hosted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 's cancer-related websites. LE&RN continued its cancer-related lymphedema campaign. LE&RN succeeded in having the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) include lymphedema as a category in the Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). LE&RN successfully requested that Congress establish a National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). LE&RN established a global Patient Resource Center. LE&RN expanded and updated its Global Patient Registry. LE&RN successfully advocated for a Program Manager in Lymphatics at the Advanced Research Agency for Health (ARPA-H) LE&RN, in concert with the research community, created a "Gaps in Lymphatic Research" document that was distributed to the NIH, CDC, ARPA-H, CDMRP, NNLBI, and NIAID. LE&RN hired its first full-time Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Science and Medical Director.