Nearly 100 Medical Professionals from Around the World Gathered to Improve Lymphatic Disease Care
NEW YORK, NY (November 11, 2026) — The Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN) convened nearly 100 leading physicians, researchers, and medical professionals in Miami in October for its inaugural Centers of Excellence Summit, focused on advancing lymphatic disease research, diagnosis, and treatment.
The first-of-its-kind gathering brought together experts from leading medical institutions across Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and the United States, including representatives from Italy, Belgium, Taiwan, Sweden, Hungary, South Korea, Singapore, Chile, and India.
Spanning specialties including surgery, rehabilitation, imaging, oncology, and vascular medicine, participants shared emerging research, clinical practices, and identified opportunities for joint initiatives to improve care for people living with lymphedema and other lymphatic diseases.
“For too long, people living with lymphatic diseases have faced a fragmented medical landscape, with limited access to proper care and too few opportunities for the world’s leading experts to work together,” said William Repicci, president and CEO of LE&RN. “The Centers of Excellence represent a growing global community of medical specialists committed to accelerating scientific discovery and improving patient care. This Summit strengthened those connections and laid the groundwork for new collaborations that will turn shared priorities into meaningful progress for patients worldwide.”
“Scientific progress depends on collaboration, and no single institution or specialty can solve the challenges facing patients with lymphatic diseases alone,” said Melissa Aldrich, PhD, chair of LE&RN’s Board of Directors and associate professor at the Center for Molecular Imaging at UTHealth Houston. “By connecting leading experts across disciplines, we can accelerate the exchange of discoveries, build stronger research partnerships, and translate advances into better patient care.”
LE&RN’s Centers of Excellence program recognizes medical institutions and clinical teams that demonstrate exceptional expertise in lymphatic disease diagnosis and treatment. The network, which has grown to 90 Centers of Excellence across 24 countries, helps patients identify specialized care while fostering research, education, and multidisciplinary collaboration among leading institutions.
An estimated 250 million people worldwide live with lymphedema, a chronic lymphatic disease that can cause swelling, discomfort, reduced mobility, and life-threatening complications. Despite its prevalence, limited research funding and access to specialized care continue to present significant challenges for patients. This is also true for children born with lymphatic anomalies and for those living with a host of conditions impacted by lymphatics, such as lipedema, diabetes, heart and lung disease, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological diseases.
The Summit was made possible through the generous support of its sponsors, including Celltaxis, Diagnostic Green, ImpediMed, Juzo, Lympha Press, Lymphatica, MMI (Medical Microinstruments), and Palvella Therapeutics. Their partnership helped bring together industry leaders, clinicians, and researchers, reinforcing the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing research, innovation, and patient care.
ABOUT LE&RN
The Lymphatic Education and Research Network’s (LE&RN) mission is to fight lymphatic and related diseases through education, research, and advocacy. We seek to accelerate the prevention, treatments, and cures for lymphedema, lipedema, lymphatic anomalies, and the continuum of lymphatic diseases.