Innovations to Treat and Diagnose Lymphatics-Based Diseases

A global medical technology leader is looking to identify innovations focused on all aspects of lymphatic-based diseases and solutions, including but not limited to, lymphedema.

This includes access to/from the lymphatic system to treat diseases of the lymphatic system, or other diseases that are modulated via the lymphatic system, lymphoid organs, lymph node sampling or removal, and lymphatic system imaging. The main focus area is for interventional treatments, although innovations specific to management of disease and/or innovative diagnostics approaches are also within scope.

Research Areas of Interest

• Main focus is on therapeutic solutions, with a high interest in treatment solutions that are, or could be made, minimally invasive using disposable interventional devices
• Opportunities that solve a moderate-significant unmet clinical need and/or impact a moderate to large patient population 
• There is some interest in innovative wearable treatments
• Small interest in durable medical equipment 
• Diagnostic opportunities will be considered if they are innovative in nature 
• Drug-device solutions are within scope, with a small interest in novel/innovative pharma-only solutions (if they can be combined with delivery device technology)

Diseases of Interest

• Lymphedema, with lower extremity phlebo-lymphedema being of particular interest and upper extremity lymphedema being of borderline interest
• Secondary lymphedema that is caused by surgery, radiation therapy, cancer or infection
• Lymphatics-based opportunities for diseases and treatments that are impacted by the lymphatic system (e.g., lymph node biopsies, role of the lymphatic system in fluid management, role of the lymphatic system in immune system modulation)

Out of Scope

• Early bench data/research at the hypotheses level regarding proposed mechanisms of action 
• Opportunities that lack significant unmet clinical need and/or lack a significant patient population 
• Pharma-only solutions (novel or otherwise) that cannot be delivered with a device