Primary research focus is a clinical study of breast cancer-related LE, using ICG imaging to visualize changes in lymphatics occurring as patients navigate surgical and radiation treatment, and investigating systemic cellular and molecular changes. Another clinical study investigates reparative microsurgeries for lymphedema. Other studies include ICG imaging of lipedema-related lymphatics, head and neck cancer-related LE, chylothorax in neonates, and changes in lymphatic function in a rodent model of rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation.

Study development of lymphatics, more specifically origin of smooth muscle cells.

My lab studies infection induced lymphedema, lymphatic metastasis and how to treat these diseases.

Genetic, molecular and cellular basis of lymphatic development and function.

Chemokine and chemotactic signals in dendritic cell migration towards and into lymphatics.

Interfacing mathematical models and data in lymphatics research. Mathematical immunology. Mathematical Modeling. Data Analysis.

3D Visualization of vessel architecture in human lymphatic malformations.

3D Visualization of vessel architecture in human lymphatic malformations

Cardiac lymphatic vessels in heart development and regeneration.

I am developmental lymphatic vascular biologist whose research is focused on lymphatic vascular development and pathologies. My lab is built around the premise that by understanding the genetics and signaling pathways that govern proper lymphatic vessel formation and maintenance, we can improve diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of lymphatic disorders and diseases.

Genetics and pathofysiology of lymphedema and lymphatic malformations.

Understanding the natural history and role of lymphatics in heart transplant biology and rejection.

Shear stress responses of lymphatic endofluid cells.

Leukocyte trafficking through lymphatic vessels vascular immune interface.

Dr. Dixon’s research focuses on the integration of biomechanics, biomedical imaging, and tissue engineering technologies towards studying the lymphatic system at the molecular, cellular, and tissue-level length scales. His research focuses to improve our basic understanding of the structure-function relationships within lymphatic biology, to improve diagnostics of lymphatic disease, and to develop regenerative strategies to restore lymphatic function.

Developing new methods of lymphedema and studying transport within the lymphatic system.

Gene therapy for lymphedema clinical trial starting in 2023.

Role of BMP-SMAD Signaling in lymphatic vessel development and maturation. Role of this pathway as a potential BCRL risk factor.

My research lab has a strong interest in the lymphatic vasculature as mediator and ptential therapeutic target in the initiation and progression of autoimmune disorders/rheumatic diseases

My research focuses on mechanisms of lymphatic vessel function in healthy conditions with regard to tissue fluid balance and immune responses. We also study the role lymphatic vessels play in a variety of disease settings, including lymphedema, bacterial infections, obesity and sequelae of aging. Finally, we study the role of lymphatic vessels in cancer progression, including how cancer cells growing in lymph nodes can spread further in the body and disrupt anti-tumor immune responses. To accomplish these goals, we have innovated a variety of intravital microscopy tools to allow us to longitudinally follow lymphatic function over the development of a disease process or in response to therapy.

We study the relation of lymphatic function to human diseases on a molecular and cellular basis. Currently we focus on the role of lymphatic vessels in metastasis and transplant rejection.

Our research group focuses on the lymphatic system in three different pathological settings: lymphedema, obesity, and cancer. Our first goal is to uncover the pathology behind development and progression of cancer-related secondary lymphedema using mouse models and human biopsy samples. Our second area of research is obesity, a state of systemic low-grade inflammation that also causes severe lymphatic damage and dysfunction. Our research is aimed at modulating lymphatic structure and function in obesity to reduce the systemic inflammation and obesity-related metabolic syndrome. Last but not the least, we are also interested in understanding the role of tumor lymphatic vessels and lymphatic function in modulating immune tolerance or antitumor immunity.

Our research group focuses on the lymphatic system in three different pathological settings: lymphedema, obesity, and cancer. Our first goal is to uncover the pathology behind development and progression of cancer-related secondary lymphedema using mouse models and human biopsy samples. Our second area of research is obesity, a state of systemic low-grade inflammation that also causes severe lymphatic damage and dysfunction. Our research is aimed at modulating lymphatic structure and function in obesity to reduce the systemic inflammation and obesity-related metabolic syndrome. Last but not the least, we are also interested in understanding the role of tumor lymphatic vessels and lymphatic function in modulating immune tolerance or antitumor immunity.

Heart disease/lymphatics

Secondary lymphedema, lipids/cholesterol, inflammation, macrophages

Lymphatic function in lipid metabolism and pathophysiology of secondary lymphedema.

Vascular biology, macrophage function and phenotype, cholesterol metabolish, atherosclerosis, lymphatic diseases.

The laboratory investigates crosstalk between lymphatics and inflammatory cells in cardiovascular systems.

I study angiopoiet tie2 signaling pathway in the development and function of the lymphatic system.

Our laboratory investigates the role of FOXC1 and FOXC2 transcrption factors in various aspects of lymphatic development and function

Lymphatic development, functional roles Lymphatic development and functional roles

I proposed a new scintigraphyc method for early diagnosis and management of lymphedema. Rest/stress intradermal lymphoscintigraphy reduces considerably examination time, improving the quality of imaging. This approach is defined as functional imaging, it evaluates the effects of muscular exercise on lymph flow. I proposed a new approach in lymphatic mapping of oral cancer. The method is based on a comparison between early and later scan, in order to visualize lymphatic vessel and distinguish sentinel node and second tier nodes.

Developmental aspects of lymphatic vasculature signaling pathways.

Novel discovery of genes required for the lymphatic vasculature in health and disease using zebrafish as a model system.

My research focus is on next generation sequence analysis for the identification of novel genes driving the onset of lymphoedema and lipoedema.

Functional characterization of primary lymphedema

I am investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying primary lymphedema.

Investigating the effects of radiation on lymphangiogenesis, implications for lymphedema.

lymphatic biology, lymphatic dx and therapeutics.

Lymphedema, lymphatic in organ transplant, lung disease and cancer.

Research in my lab focuses on lymphatic transport and its role in the intestinal and renal function under normal and disease conditions. We employ integrative approaches leveraging a broad expertise in bioengineering, physiology and cell biology to study lymph flow regulation, vascular adaptation, lymphatic pump failure and hastened lymphedema resolution.

Understanding the mechanism that drive and regulate lymph flow and function.

Renal lymphatics and hypertension (Recent RO1 grant funded by NIDDK)

The Rutkowski Lab is interested in how changes in lymphatic vessel biology and physiology impact disease progression in conditions of chronic tissue inflammation. Ongoing studies are identifying novel roles for lymphatics in obesity, diabetes, hypertension, lymphedema, and lipedema, in tissues from adipose tissue to the kidney. How lymphatics regulate the inflammatory response is a common thread in the lab’s work.

Role of lymphatics in progression of actute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease, and if lymphangiogensis can mitigate progression to CKD.

Lymphatic metastasis of cancer cells lead to more aggressive forms of cancer with less treatment options and poor survival rate. We are studying this cross talk between cancer cells and lymphatic endothelial cells.

Exploring the role of lymphatics in cancer (bile duct cancer, cholangiocarcinoma) micro-environment.

The Swartz lab is focused on building an integrated understanding of how lymphatics influence interstitial fluid balance and regulation, immune system maintenance and education, and materials transport, in health versus disease. They use approaches from engineering, physiology, and immunology to reveal underlying mechanisms by which lymphatics fine-tune immune responses,  as well as develop translational applications such as in vitro model systems and novel approaches to cancer immunotherapy.

Prevalence and impact of lymphoedema, early detection of breast cancer lymphoedema, quality of life in lymphoedema/lipoedema.

Studying the interation between colorectal cancer cells and lymphatic endonuclial cells

Investigating the role of the lymphatic system in the metastasis formation of colorectal cancer.

Lymphatic involvement in sepsis.

Imaging of lymphatic function.

Lymphatic function during infection.

Regulation of lymphatic functions in health and inflammatory diseases.

Pulmonary lymphatic function in a model of congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary blood flow

My research is on lymphatic diseases and lymphedema using mouse models.

We study the interaction between the lymphatic endothelium and immune cells across organ systems.  Specifically we are interested in how the lymphatic endothelium promotes tissue homeostasis and how specific factors can contribute to lymphatic dysfunction.

My research focuses on how chronic inflammation drives lymphatic differentiation to regulate disease pathogenesis.  Specifically, we are examining how transcriptional and functional changes in the liver lymphatics influence immune cell recruitment and activation during chronic liver disease.

Impact of lymphatic vessels on Tcell responses in cancer and autoimmunity.

VEGFR3 signaling in obesity and lymphatic function and the role of VEGFR3 signaling in intestinal lacteal function.

Mechanisms of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, tumor angiogenesis and metastasis.

Lymphatic valve development and maintenance.

My laboratory studies the intracellular signaling mechanisms that regulate the development and function of the lymphatic vascular system. We are particularly interested in understanding how inherited mutations in genes that encode intracellular signaling proteins result in lymphatic disease and how these diseases might be effectively treated. Most recently, we have become interested in understanding how the adaptive immune system promotes the development of secondary lymphedema.

Excitability of lymphatic muscle by sarcoendoplasimic reticulum calcium dynamics.

My research program explores the G protein coupled receptor pathways that regulate lymphatic vascular function during development, adulthood and disease using genetically engineered mouse models, cell culture models, high resolution imaging and genomics approaches.

My research is at the intersection of lymphatic and cardiovascular biology, studying endothelial plasticity and programming in specialized vascular beds with an interesting in improving our understanding of mechanisms and signaling pathways that could be targeted for the treatment of vascular diseases.

My lab is exploring the physiological effects of manual therapies on the lymphatic system using animal models.

Our research focuses on lymphatic function in patients suffering from periodontitis.

How leukocytes migrate from tissues to lymph nodes via lymphatics in inflammation and immunity.

Our research is focussed on understanding the role of pro-inflammatory signaling mechanisms in regulating the pathophysiological function of blood and lymphatic endothelial cells in inflammatory and immune diseases. We are currently investigating the non-canonical NF-kB pathway in lymphatic endothelial cells using new mouse models that we have generated and we have identified a key role for this mechanism in controlling immune cell migration and lymph node development and function.

Lymphatic vessel development, genetics of lymphatic vascular diseases (lympoedema, lipoedema, vascular malformations)

Transcriptional control of lymphatic endothelial cell identity, how lymphatic valves are constructed and the molecules important for this process.

The laboratory of Dr. Joshua Scallan is focused on studying the mechanisms underlying 1) the regulation of lymphatic vessel permeability (i.e. barrier function), and 2) the embryonic formation and postnatal maintenance of lymphatic valves. Specifically, we hypothesize that mechanotransduction signaling events that begin at cell-cell junctions regulate both lymphatic permeability and valve development. We employ a unique combination of physiological and genetic approaches to answer these questions, including knockout and transgenic models.

Investigation novel molecular targets to treat lymphatic value to restore lymph flow in lymphedema

I am currently investigation how post translational modification can impact major transcription factors such as Proxl, and thereby lymphangiogenesis in developmental and pathological conditions

We study lymphatic development and function.

I create numerical models of the mechanics of lymph transport in collecting and initial lymphatic vessels and network. Currently my detailed focus is on 3D finite-element modeling of intravascular lymphatic valves, and on the analysis of imaging data (supplied by U. of Lausanne) to determine the involvement of fluid flow stimuli in the formation of lymphatic valves in embryo.

My lab aims to expand the current knowledge about the lymph node vascular specialization and new lymphatic endothelon change in cancer disease.

vascular morphogenesis, endothelial cell heterogeneity, genetic mouse model, lymphedema, lymphatic malformation My laboratory studies the mechanisms that control the development, homeostasis and function of the lymphatic vasculature. In particular, we are interested in understanding how lymphatic endothelial cells communicate with the tissue environment to co-ordinate morphogenesis and organ-specific functional specialisation of the vasculature. We also investigate how regulators of developmental lymphangiogenesis impact on genetic human diseases including lymphedema and vascular malformations.

lymphedema, lymphatic disease, Lipedema Together with a team of imaging scientists and clinicians in lymphedema therapy and vascular medicine, our research seeks to improve the care for patients suffering from lymphatic disease. Our research centers around noninvasive imaging of sodium and lymphatic physiology using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ongoing research projects aim to develop sodium and lymphatic imaging tools to understand vascular disease mechanisms of lipedema, lymphedema, and hypertension.

lymphatic signatures, imaging Our work focuses on developing new imaging methodologies and applying these methodologies to improve our understanding of human tissue function in health and disease. A major emphasis of our work is to utilize vascular blood and lymphatic signatures to identify subtle changes in physiology that precede overt symptoms and clinical disease manifestations, and as such can be used to triage patients for disease-modifying therapies prior to irreversible tissue damage. Applications of this work by lab investigators and our immediate collaborators focus on cerebrovascular disease and stroke, HIV, peripheral lymphatic disorders, anemia, fat disorders, and neurodegeneration.

Organ on a chip, biomechanics, mechanobiology

My lab focuses on lymphatic filariasis (LF) and other filarial infections, but with a particular interest in reducing the morbidity and disability that comes from lymphedema secondary to LF.  I am a co-investigator for the LEDoxy Study, which is testing the hypothesis that treatment with doxycycline can slow or even reduce lymphedema progression. My lab has also validated a new tool (portable 3D infrared scanner) for monitoring limb volume changes in patients with lymphedema.

Roles of lymphatic collecting vessels in the pathology of Crohn's Disease

I research the role of lymphatic vessels in solid organ transportation in the heart, lung and kidney.

The Santambrogio's laboratory is dedicated to the analysis of the lymphatic fluid composition in physiological and pathological conditions. How lymph "omics" convey the signature from the organs that it drains and how does it interface with the immune system in the draining lymph nodes.

My lab studies lymphatic vascular system in the liver and pancreas.  We also study hepatic microcirculation, mechanisms of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and portal hypertension as well as liver regeneration.

We are broadly interested in cellular and molecular mechanisms governing angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Our research has revealed Neuropilin2 and Semaphorin3A as novel regulators of lymphangiogenesis (Development 2002, J Cell Biol 2010, Circ Res 2012). We have also found that lymphatic endothelial button junctions in the small intestine control chylomicron uptake, and that zippering (closing) such junctions can prevent chylomicron uptake, thereby rendering mice resistant to diet-induced obesity (Science 2018). Our current research aims at understanding molecular mechanisms controlling development of lymphatic endothelial junctions, with the long-term goal to develop novel treatments to prevent dietary fat uptake and combat obesity.