Four million dollars are allocated in the U.S. for a first round of support for lymphatic research

The Lymphatic Research Foundation has succeeded in getting $4 million allocated to a first round of funding for lymphatic research in the U.S. and in getting the NIH to detail its plans to promote lymphatic research in the future. The RFA addressing "Functional Heterogeneity of the Peripheral, Pulmonary and Lymphatic Vessels" has been publicly released. Canadian researchers are encouraged to look at applying for these funds. The URL for more information is: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-03-004.html

The Lymphatic Research Foundation, based in Roslyn, New York, has also succeeded in getting the U.S. Senate's appropriations sub-committee to order the National Institutes of Health to provide a report on lymphatic research by April 2003. In it the NIH will be required to detail its short and long-term plans for promoting research programs relating to lymphatic disease in all Institutes.

The NIH has also been instructed to examine whether experts on lymphatic research are adequately represented on the CSR peer review panels and relevant Institute study sections. Congratulations to the LRF on your hard work - we look forward to seeing the April report and more progress in this area. See http://www.lymphaticresearch.org for more information.

Below is the wording the Senate committee used:

Research and medical care for lymphatic diseases has long been neglected; therefore, the Committee strongly urges the NIH to stimulate and support intramural and extramural programs for basic and translational research relating to lymphatic diseases, including but not limited to: insufficiency of lymphatic circulatory function (to include all forms of lymphedema, both primary and secondary); lymphatic vascular valvular insufficiencies; complex congenital vascular proliferative diseases of the lymphatic vasculature, including but not limited to, so-called lymphangioma, cystic hygroma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioleiomyomatosis; and developmental disorders of the lymphatic system, including but not limited to lymphangiectasia, chylous reflux and complex vascular malformations, such as Klippel-Trenauny Syndrome.

The Committee requests the Director to provide a report by April 1, 2003, outlining both short- and long-term plans to stimulate and support basic and translational research for lymphatic diseases. Furthermore, the Committee urges the NIH to examine whether experts on lymphatic research are adequately represented on CSR peer review panels and relevant Institute study sections.

This is a major addition to LRF's previous advocacy efforts. With the help of lymphedema patient Jean Mignolet of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, LRF successfully advocated for the creation of a Trans-NIH Coordinating Committee to focus on the lymphatic system, with particular emphasis on lymphedema and related lymphatic disorders. (MAKING OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED AND EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001; NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR)

For more information on the great work of this organization check out the Lymphatic Research Foundation's web site at:www.lymphaticresearch.org

A report of the LRF's May 2002 2nd International Biomedical Research Conference on Lymphatic Research can be viewed here.