Lymphatic Education & Research Network Inc (Le&rn)

What it reported doing in 2025

Some activities of the organization during 2025 include the following: LE&RN continued to expand programs to meet the goals of the expanded mission of fighting lymphatic disease through education, research, and advocacy. LE&RN continued its grant program, which allows young investigators to attend conferences focused on lymphatic research. LE&RN continued its educational and awareness outreach programs targeting academia, government, industry, and the medical and patient communities. LE&RN continued its monthly virtual symposium series, which brings the world's foremost authorities in lymphatic disease and lymphedema to patients, their families, and professionals. LE&RN updated its website and provided daily social media posts and monthly newsletters featuring significant events in the field. LE&RN produced six issues of Lymphatic Research and Biology, an international, peer-reviewedbiomedical journal providing a forum for the exchange of cutting-edge scientific developments in lymphatic science and medicine. LE&RN secured ongoing support from the Congressional and National Institutes of Health for lymphatic research. LE&RN continued the LE&RN/LymphNotes Lymphedema Scholarship Program to provide tuition support to therapists seeking certification in lymphedema therapy. LE&RN continued a web-based "Ask the Experts" feature that allows patients, their families, and professionals to ask the most prominent authorities in the field questions directly. LE&RN spokesperson and Academy Award Winner Kathy Bates appeared in print and television media to support research. LE&RN's Virtual Expo was expanded to better serve patients and therapists. LE&RN and NAVBO prepared a biennial Virtual Lymphatic Forum for researchers LE&RN developed new chapters in several states and countries. LE&RN continued to lead global events related to its establishment of World Lymphedema Day on March 6, 2016. LE&RN supported and grew its Centers of Excellence in the Diagnosis & Treatment of Lymphatic Diseases to 80 member institutions in over 20 countries. LE&RN, in collaboration with Stanford University, hosted the annual virtual State-of-the-Art Summit in Lymphatic Research & Medicine. LE&RN promoted its PSA video featuring National Spokesperson Kathy Bates, which was hosted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 's cancer-related websites. LE&RN continued its cancer-related lymphedema campaign. LE&RN succeeded in having the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) include lymphedema as a category in the Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). LE&RN successfully requested that Congress establish a National Commission on Lymphatic Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). LE&RN established a global Patient Resource Center. LE&RN expanded and updated its Global Patient Registry. LE&RN successfully advocated for a Program Manager in Lymphatics at the Advanced Research Agency for Health (ARPA-H) LE&RN, in concert with the research community, created a "Gaps in Lymphatic Research" document that was distributed to the NIH, CDC, ARPA-H, CDMRP, NNLBI, and NIAID. LE&RN hired its first full-time Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Science and Medical Director.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 81.5%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.96 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -38%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.03; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.13; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 29.3%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.8% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.1% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 24.2% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings