Lymphatic Symposia at the National Institutes of Health

The Lymphatic Research Foundation is pleased to highlight two recent symposia sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH Fall Research Festival held October 6–7, 2009 was an exciting forum of presentations designed to highlight the NIH intramural research community. Each year thousands of researchers attend the festival on the NIH campus; and this year a special symposium “Lymphatic Biology and Disease: The Cinderella of the Vascular System Finally Gets Invited to the Ball” underscored the importance of the lymphatic system and the key role it plays in immunity, fluid balance, wound healing, and metabolism. The symposium emphasized some of the remaining challenges facing lymphatic research, including the development of the lymphatic vasculature, diseases of the lymphatic system, imaging modalities, vascular lymphangiogenesis, and lymphatic functioning in parasitic diseases and immunity. Special thanks to John Hanover, Ph.D, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) for chairing this most informative session and to Joel Moss, M.D., Ph.D of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for his support.

Further addressing current research on the biology of the lymphatic system, as well as the need for future research on lymphatics, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) held a 2-day workshop entitled “Lymphatics in the Digestive System: Physiology, Health, and Disease.” The workshop focused on current research on the biology of the lymphatic system and the role of lymphatics in organ function with an emphasis on the digestive system, as well as the need for future research on lymphatics in areas of NIDDK interest. Discussions, particularly with respect to research that may form a basis for future therapies to address organ dysfunction related to lymphatics, were an integral part of the workshop. Participants in this enlightening meeting included Stanley Rockson, M.D., Chair of LRF's Scientific/Medical Advisory Council who presented the plenary lecture: Causes and Consequences of Lymphatic Disease, as well as David Zawieja, Ph.D of Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, who chaired and presented among other talks, the session overview entitled Lymphatics: The Fundamentals. D. Neil Granger, Ph.D of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center chaired and participated in the session, Lymphatics and Digestive Diseases. Both Dr. Granger and Dr. Zawieja are integral members of LRF's Scientific/Medical Advisory Council. Patrick Tso, Ph.D of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, in addition to chairing the session on Lymphatic and Digestive Functions, presented the session overview and gave a talk on other aspects of the lymphatics in intestinal transport. Drs. Tso, Granger, Rockson, and Zawieja did an outstanding job organizing this exceptional workshop.

Congressional Support for Lymphatics

LRF's advocacy for awareness and research of the lymphatic system and lymphatic diseases has again yielded considerable support from the United States Senate and House of Representatives in highlighting the importance of lymphatic research and lymphatic disease. We are pleased to once more share with you relevant report language from the FY 2010 Congressional Appropriations Committee Reports for both the House and Senate. To read the report in full (Departments of Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2010, House Report 111-220 and Senate Report 111-066), visit http://thomas.loc.gov or visit the LRF website at www.lymphaticresearch.org

House Report 111-220—Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2010

Office of the Director—Lymphatic Research and Lymphatic Disease—The Committee urges NIH to begin to implement the recommendations of the Trans-NIH Working Group on lymphatic research. The Committee encourages NIH to work toward the creation of centralized core facilities for: (a) experimental molecular and diagnostic lymphatic imaging; (b) the development and standardization of research reagents; and (c) the generation of virtual networks to facilitate basic, translational, and clinical research.

Senate Report 111-066—Departments of Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2010

Office of the Director—Lymphatic Research and Lymphatic Disease—Research on the lymphatic system is multidisciplinary and does not conform easily to the mission of any one institute or center. This situation has contributed to its relative neglect as an investigative focus. In an attempt to rectify this historical neglect, the Trans-NIH Working Group was convened in September 2007 to provide recommendations to the participating institutes and centers for further direction in lymphatic research. The Committee is discouraged by the lack of progress made with respect to these recommendations and encourages aggressive measures to work toward their implementation, including but not limited to: the creation of centralized core facilities for experimental molecular and diagnostic lymphatic imaging, the development and standardization of research reagents, and the generation of virtual networks to facilitate basic, translational, and clinical research; the development of techniques for the quantitative and molecular imaging of lymphatic function, lymphatic malformations, and lymph nodes; the creation of interdisciplinary programs to train new investigators in lymphatic research; the creation of patient registries and a lymphatic disease tissue bank; the generation and characterization of animal models to foster and facilitate investigations in lymphatic biology; and the identification of suitable panels of biomarkers for lymphatic disease. The Committee again commends the NHLBI for taking a leadership role in the Trans-NIH Coordinating Committee and for engaging consultative expertise, and it encourages the continuation of these efforts in concert with the other relevant institutes and centers.

Gordon Research Conference

One of the most successful efforts undertaken by LRF has been the establishment of the biennial Gordon Research Conference Series (GRC) specifically devoted to Molecular Mechanisms in Lymphatic Function and Disease. The fourth biennial conference will be held June 13–18, 2010 at the Il Ciocco Hotel and Resort, Lucca (Barga), Italy. The Gordon Research Conference Series provides an international forum bringing together investigators who are at the forefront of their field proving a unique format for the exchange of ideas and information as well as the opportunity to discuss the latest research findings and technical advances. There will also be opportunities for junior scientists and graduate students to present their work in poster format and to exchange their ideas with leaders in the field. This upcoming program will present cutting-edge research in the rapidly advancing area of lymphatic biology and novel findings about the role of lymphatics in human diseases associated with obesity, hypertension, immune suppression, congenital and secondary lymphedema, inflammation, tumors, and metastasis, and chemo-attraction between tumor cells and lymphatic endothelium will be discussed. To register or for more information, visit: http://www.grc.org/programs.aspx?year=2010&program=Lymphatic

Lymphatic Research Foundation Awards