Abstract
LE&RN Advocacy
On October 2, 2018, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a first-in-the-nation Act, authored by the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN). The public health law is amended to mandate that the New York State Department of Health shall design an informational packet about lymphedema and shall require that every general hospital distribute such a packet to all patients at high risk of developing lymphedema. Our thanks go to Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal who first introduced this bill in the New York State (NYS) Assembly, and to Senator Martin J. Golden who championed it in the NYS Senate. And our thanks to Governor Andrew Cuomo who saw the importance of this bill and signed it into law. One of the obstacles to lymphedema (LE) becoming a national priority has been its low profile among medical practitioners. With medical schools spending little time on the study of lymphatics, doctors are often slow or unable to diagnose LE. As a result, people at risk for the disease may be completely surprised by the onset of symptoms and lose valuable time in pursuing a treatment regimen. An informed person is an empowered person. We will now work with LE&RN Chapters to bring this bill to State Houses across the country. This bill is one part of a threefold strategy. It is equally important that doctors advise patients when LE is a risk prior to performing at-risk procedures. To address this, LE&RN and its partners have created the CME Physician Seminar in Lymphatic Disease Diagnosis and Treatment. And finally, we need to inspire healers by giving them new insurable treatments to dispense. LE&RN representatives also visited the NIH in October 2018 to make the case that lymphatic research dollars need to be dramatically increased. As an organization with an ambitious agenda impacting up to 250 million worldwide who suffer from lymphatic diseases, LE&RN relies on the activism and financial support of a loyal but relatively small membership.
Lymphatic Forum 2019
The LE&RN and the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) are pleased to sponsor the upcoming Lymphatic Forum 2019, Exploring the Lymphatic Continuum, May 30-June 1, 2019 at the AT & T Conference Center, Austin, Texas, hosted by Texas A&M University and the Texas Lymphatic Consortium. Key organizers are David Zawieja, Texas A&M University, Stanley Rockson, Stanford University and Jan Kitajewski, University of Illinois.
Topics to include-
Clinical/patient session
Clinical Aspects of lymphatic pathologies and patient perspectives
Lymphatic development and remodeling
Biomechanics of lymphatic structure & function
Lymphatic muscle and lymph flow
Novel insights on mechanisms of lymph transport
Inflammation and the lymphatic-immune interface
Role of lymphatics in infectious and parasitic diseases
Mixed vascular (lymphatic-venous) anomalies
Quantitative analysis of lymphatic structure & function
Lymph Interstitial Fluid “omic” profiles in health and disease
Lymphatic tissue engineering, stem cells and nanoparticles
The Forum will also include Plenary Talks and Poster Sessions with great opportunities for the involvement of young investigators.
Lymphatic Forum 2021
The Lymphatic Education and Research Network and North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) invite institutions of higher learning to apply to host the Lymphatic Forum 2021, Exploring the Lymphatic Continuum.
The Biennial Lymphatic Forum is intended to bring together a diverse group of scientists and clinicians studying different aspects of normal and pathological lymphatic biology using different experimental models. This meeting is intended to provide a unique format for the exchange of ideas and information, to evaluate the current views on the functional roles of the lymphatic vasculature in health and disease, and to attract young postdocs and students to join this expanding research area. The biennial Forum was inaugurated in 2013 at Yale University (New Haven, CT), and has since been sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH, 2015) and Northwestern University (Chicago, IL, 2017).
Institutions interested in hosting LF2021 are invited to submit a proposal to host the Lymphatic Forum 2021. Although preference is generally given to North American locations, all applications will be considered on their merit alignment with the Forum's ambitious goals.
Proposal due date: January 20, 2019
To submit a proposal, please provide brief answers to the following questions and send this document to: LERN@LymphaticNetwork.org.
-All proposals will be evaluated by NAVBO and LE&RN and finalists will be determined and notified by April 30, 2019.
Proposals Questions:
The theme of the proposed forum and topics to be covered (indicate those with a clinical or translational aspect) The institution(s) collaborating on the forum The location and infrastructure available for the proposed meeting Attendance capacity The proposed budget Proposed sponsors Potential speakers Ability and commitment to write NIH funding grant or secure commensurate alternate funding source The names of the proposed Chairs/Organizers of the Forum, including their CVs and past experience in hosting similar or larger conferences General description of why your institution provides a unique opportunity for the LF2021
Information on the program and budget of previous Lymphatic Forums available upon request to those submitting proposals.
General Information to Help in Your Planning
Please consider the inclusion of under-represented minority groups (ethnicity, age, gender, etc.)
Support you can expect from NAVBO & LE&RN
LE&RN's and NAVBO's primary function will be to promote LF2021 to its members. Promotion will include the following: print media, “Save the Date” postcards distributed at NAVBO/LE&RN meetings, e-blast to databases.
Website: NAVBO and LE&RN will provide websites, which will contain all the pertinent information about the Forum.
Registration: NAVBO will handle all registrations and appropriate Abstract submission
NAVBO will set up an online abstract submission system and provide the host with the capability to review abstracts online.
LE&RN and NAVBO will both collect scholarship applications through their online submission process. They will also provide some funding for scholarships.
Administrative Services
Services provided by NAVBO and LE&RN will be limited to providing the host with prior Forum programs, budgets, and grant proposals.
Responsibilities of the Host Organization/Institution:
In conjunction with the Forum Steering Committee, select and invite speakers
All appropriate accommodations for speakers
An R13 grant should be submitted to the NHLBI by August 12 of the previous year
Fundraising: The host site will be responsible for acquiring the funds to support speaker travel and hotel, A/V, poster boards, and other functions or activities. It is recommended that host organizations not guarantee speaker expense reimbursement unless funds have been committed for that purpose, such as grants or corporate support. Otherwise, we suggest only guaranteeing to waive the meeting registration at the time of the registration.
Meeting Space: The host is responsible for the coordination of all meeting spaces, including any dining or special functions
Space is needed for platform and poster sessions. If possible, mingle lunch with posters or provide a separate room for lunch.
All A/V needs including poster boards
Accessibility: Meeting rooms should be equipped with the necessary Internet access
Food and Beverage: The host is responsible for providing coffee breaks and can decide whether to provide lunch. These costs should be covered by registration fees since most companies and NIH will not cover food.
Neither NAVBO nor LE&RN will assume liability for any financial loss incurred by this meeting. Care should be taken to ensure a realistic budget.
