Pictured above: Sathish Srinivasan, Ph.D., one of LE&RN''s early post-doctoral fellowship recipients.
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LE&RN responds to COVID-19 pandemic
In February, LE&RN began revising organizational plans in response to the crisis. As cases in the U.S. grew exponentially, LE&RN, in partnership with the Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) in the UK, developed COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Guidelines for the Lymphatic Disease Community.
In March, LE&RN worked with over 200 other non-profit patient advocacy community-based organizations in calling on Congress to include such organizations in any federal aid packages or supplemental appropriations measures, and to make changes to tax laws to give all donors the ability to receive tax incentives for their much-needed donations at this time.
LE&RN steps up federal lobbying efforts and advocacy on Capitol Hill
While the national emergency made LE&RN's scheduled late-March lobbying days in Washington, D.C. impossible, LE&RN actually intensified its efforts on this front, calling on supporters to share their stories that LE&RN would then compile in making the community's case for more funding and more research. The response was overwhelming and LE&RN continues to collect these stories on its website. Those living with LE and LD, as well as family members, health care workers, and researchers are asked to contribute. Group conference calls with legislators are currently being arranged. These calls will include advocates from each state, medical professionals, researchers, and industry leaders. Your stories will be on the desk of each legislator when these calls are made. Our efforts are focused on getting a Lymphatic Commission established, opening the Department of Defense medical research budget to lymphatic researchers, and passage of the Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA). Our thanks to mediUSA, ImpediMed, and Sigvaris for sponsoring this effort.
Coronavirus research, open access offered
LE&RN has been able to share a generous offer for researchers from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers of Lymphatic Research & Biology, the official journal of LE&RN. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, free access to all papers related to relevant coronavirus research have been made open access in hopes that it can be a useful resource as a successful vaccine is developed and implemented. Now more than ever, the world is relying on the efforts of the medical research community and at LE&RN we remain ever-more committed to supporting that crucial work.
Livestream Symposium
In early April, LE&RN offered a free Livestream Symposium aimed at providing much-needed information regarding COVID-19 as it impacts the LE and LD communities. "Managing LE Under COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Orders" was presented by Kathleen Shillue, PT, DPT, OCS, CLT, Clinical Director and Physical Therapist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and was attended by hundreds of viewers around the world. All LE&RN Symposiums can be found on LE&RN's website.
New video available on LE&RN's website
"Lymphedema Prevention Program...The Future in Cancer Care," with Sabrina Korentager, MSN, RN, BS, CLT-UE, is now available on LE&RN's website.
NCCN guidelines for breast-cancer LE early detection updated
At the urging of The American Society of Breast Surgeons Foundation, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, LE&RN, and Impedimed, the National Comprehensive Care Network (NCCN) updated its guidelines to now encourage healthcare providers to consider pre-treatment measurements for patients with lymphedema risk factors. LE&RN, along with these partner organizations, has long advocated for the early detection of lymphedema, which is critical for optimal outcomes. The NCCN guidelines are widely referenced by providers and decision-makers when implementing or updating care and coverage of oncology patient services.
LE&RN creates lymphatic researcher database for NIH
At NIH''s request, LE&RN has created a Lymphatic Researcher Database to keep NIH informed of the lymphatic research being pursued worldwide. LE&RN now needs all lymphatic researchers to submit information for this webpage by contacting LE&RN at LERN@LymphaticNetwork.org. Research names, institutions, Pub Med weblinks, and brief research descriptions will appear on this page, searchable by name, institution, or topic. All 27 NIH Institutes and Centers have been provided this weblink. This initiative grew out of the efforts of the Trans-NIH Lymphatics Coordinating Committee.
LE&RN spearheads letter signed by more than 150 lymphatic researchers
With the goal of a Lymphatic Center at NIH, LE&RN is pressuring NIH, with the support of Congress, to establish a Lymphatic Commission to study the need for lymphatic research NIH-wide. Over 150 researchers signed this letter to the health-related Congressional Subcommittee.
LE&RN succeeds in lobbying NIH for consideration through Research, Condition and Disease Categorization (RCDC)
RCDC is a computerized process the NIH uses to categorize and report the amount it funded in each of the more than 280 reported categories of disease, condition, or research area. Lymphatics and lymphedema have not been categorized to date. In August 2019, Dr. Tim Padera and LE&RN met with the staff of NHLBI, including Program Officer Zorina Galas, Ph.D., where this issue was raised. Dr. Gallis persevered on our behalf and succeeded. NIH is creating two new RCDC categories for lymphatics and lymphedema.
LE&RN offers free CME access to LR&B subscribers
Researchers who subscribe to Lymphatic Research & Biology (the official journal of LE&RN) can take advantage of free access to LE&RN''s 7-credit Physician CME: Lymphatic-Vascular Disease: Diagnosis & Treatment. Contact LE&RN for more information.
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Looking back at what we have accomplished together in such a short period of time, and in the midst of a pandemic, amazes and humbles me. Any one of these accomplishments on its own would be a significant achievement in the best of times. To come so far on programs that are vital to the future and well-being of those who live with LE and LD is a testament to LE&RN''s staff, partners, sponsors, and community.
In June, we achieved a long-sought goal. We announced the first Centers of Excellence in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lymphatic Diseases. 
At the beginning of April, LE&RN offered a free online Symposium: "
LE&RN partner ILWTI teamed up with teenage activist, Savannah Paetzel, to spread the word about "Lymphie LARA," the world''s first superhero character with LE. Savannah created a children''s activity book and says, "We want these coloring pages to reach children with LD and LE, and patients with children, as an engaging, fun way to educate kids about these diseases." You can find Lymphie LARA''s story and official coloring page here: 
This year''s 
This month, we were pleased to share a generous offer from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers of Lymphatic Research & Biology, the official journal of LE&RN.
Many LymphWalks that had been scheduled are now taking place solely online and those events are extended through the end of the year. 
The height of summer proved to be an especially busy time for LE&RN. We held our first-ever National Action Week, prepared for the launch of additional Centers of Excellence, received a grant from the prestigious Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and were amazed by the ingenuity of LE&RN supporters who held online fundraisers and events.
The first Centers of Excellence in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lymphatic Diseases were announced at the beginning of summer. Additional Surgical, Referral, and Conservative Care Centers will be announced as we head into fall, followed by a call for new applications.
Zac Berger, of Zac''s Attack for a Cure, held a 10-hour charity stream on Twitch in support of LE&RN. (
The ongoing global health crisis has prompted all of us at LE&RN to ask how we can best serve the LE, LI, and LD communities when so many of our in-person events have to be reimagined. One such response is the upcoming Centers of Excellence 2020 Summit: State-of-the-Art Lymphatic Medicine. This two-day event will take place entirely online and will feature leaders in the field of lymphatics. I look forward to joining with LE&RN Spokesperson Kathy Bates and Summit Chair Dr. Stanley G. Rockson in welcoming participants this Friday morning.
LE&RN congratulates the recipients of the LE&RN-GRC Leadership Awards, given every two years to those researchers nominated and selected by their peers for their demonstration of excellence in the field of lymphatic research. This year''s Lifetime Leadership Award went to Professor Michael Detmar, M.D., ETH Zurich, Switzerland. Career Achievement Awards were given to Tatiana Petrova, Ph.D. (Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Switzerland), and Taija Makinen, Ph.D., (Uppsala University, Sweden). Dr. Makinen is pictured at the GRC with LE&RN President & CEO William Repicci. 
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