ARPA-H launches program to repair and restore lymphatic system 

Program aims to develop affordable and accessible treatments by targeting abnormal lymphatic structure and function 

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today announced the Groundbreaking Lymphatic Interventions and Drug Exploration (GLIDE) program. GLIDE aims to develop physical, pharmacologic, gene, and cell-based therapeutic interventions to treat primary and rare lymphatic disease (LD) and chronic conditions complicated by lymphatic dysfunction.   

The lymphatic system (LS) plays a key role in health by returning fluids and proteins from tissues to circulation, communicating with the immune system, and absorbing nutrients from the gut. LS dysfunction can have serious consequences, and currently there are no FDA approved therapies that directly target the lymphatics. Today’s treatments are only palliative and lifelong, resulting in off-target toxic side effects, with no cures to address abnormal lymphatic structure and function.  

“We urgently need repair and regeneration treatments to restore healthy lymphatic flow. Millions of people with lymphatic disease or a chronic disease with underlying lymphatic dysfunction must manage progressive and debilitating life-threatening symptoms for their entire lives,” said ARPA-H Program Manager Kimberley Steele, M.D., Ph.D. “In addition to ARPA-H’s LIGHT program to make the lymphatic system visible through new imaging and diagnostic approaches, GLIDE will lead to the development of an entirely new field of lymphatic medicine with affordable and accessible FDA approved treatments.” 

GLIDE’s forthcoming Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) will address two critical challenges in lymphatic disease treatment - decompression, and repair and regeneration - through two technical areas: 

• Restore Flow through Physical Interventions focuses on developing technology to enhance microsurgery, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, compression, or other physical/mechanical means to improve lymphatic structure and function. 
• Normalize Function through Targeted Pharmacologic, Gene and Cell Therapies focuses on platform development and therapeutic identification of pharmacologic approaches to repair, regenerate and/or relieve obstruction causing lymphatic dysfunction. 

Each technical area has two independent paths to pursue, Activator and Accelerator, each with three phases to support commercialization. The Activator path is for transformative early-stage solutions with limited or no preliminary data collected. The Accelerator path emphasizes technologies with some demonstrated proof of concept but requires additional feasibility investigation up to early efficacy data or prototyping.  

While decompression and lymphatic repair have seen proof of concept demonstrations at specialized centers, both need technological advancements to bring these benefits to a wider population. As part of GLIDE, performers and patient ambassadors will collaborate to advocate for policies and partnerships with both government agencies and the private sector in promoting accessibility and affordability of any resulting new technology. 

“ARPA-H will be a catalyst to move lymphatic medicine from the fringes to the mainstream and expand our understanding of the lymphatic system’s role in clinical medicine,” said ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn, Ph.D. “It is critical to address accessibility barriers so we can deliver first-in-class targeted therapies for all who need them at any stage of their journey.” 

Multiple awards under this ISO are anticipated. Awards will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds. Learn more about GLIDE on its program page, which includes information about the Special Notice, Proposers’ Day registration, and guidance on how to submit a teaming profile.