Georgia Tech Receives Major Funding To Develop Lymphatic Disease Therapy

The Georgia Institute of Technology has been awarded up to $21.8 cardinal from nan Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to present a first-of-its-kind therapy to patients pinch lymphatic disease.

For galore of these patients, attraction has agelong meant symptom and disfigurement alongside different terrible broadside effects, alternatively than receiving curen that addresses nan illness itself. This caller ARPA-H grant marks a imaginable turning point.

Lead interrogator Susan Napier Thomas, Woodruff Professor successful nan George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and nan Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB), has collaborated pinch her workfellow J. Brandon Dixon, Woodruff Professor successful nan Woodruff School and IBB, for much than a decade connected this project. The investigation partners are driven by nan deficiency of meaningful curen options disposable to patients.

Funding support astatine this level is unprecedented. It yet gives america a chance to move beyond denotation guidance and toward existent treatment. We're addressing an underserved organization pinch a immense unmet need."

Susan Napier Thomas, Woodruff Professor successful the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering 

A spread successful care

The lymphatic strategy helps support fluid moving done nan assemblage and plays a cardinal domiciled successful immune health. When it does not usability properly, fluid tin build up successful tissues, causing chronic pain and different semipermanent complications. Thomas noted that contempt its toll connected patients, lymphatic illness has lagged decades down cardiovascular attraction successful some curen and investigation investment.

"We are excited astir this groundbreaking task successful lymphatic engineering," said Andrés García, IBB executive director. "By uniting interdisciplinary expertise, this activity addresses long-standing challenges successful lymphatic illness and moves meaningful solutions person to nan patients who request them most."

What comes next

In nan coming years, Thomas, Dixon, and their investigation partners will activity toward an first quality trial, pinch an early attraction connected uncommon lymphatic conditions successful children, arsenic good arsenic chronic illness successful adults.

"This grant reflects Georgia Tech's increasing activity successful utilizing engineering to lick immoderate of healthcare's biggest challenges," said Carolyn Seepersad, Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. School Chair and professor successful nan Woodruff School. "It reinforces nan Institute's domiciled successful advancing innovations that amended diligent attraction and fortify Georgia's position arsenic a hub for wellness exertion and biomedical innovation."

The grant was made done ARPA-H's Groundbreaking Lymphatic Interventions and Drug Exploration (GLIDE) programme led by Dr. Kimberley Steele.