Project Summary - Research in the lymphatic circulation is exciting and rich in challenges as its importance in immune cell trafficl

Relevance - Despite the vast importance of the lymphatic system for lipid transport, almost nothing is known about how it is actively regulated or about the biology of lipid transport and metabolism by lymphatics. A few clinical correlations and experimental obsen/ations have linked the two, but this proposed research will establish foundational basic studies on how lymphatics actively affect lipid metabolism and will develop critical in vivo and in vitro tools for studying lipid trafficking and processing by the lymphatic endothelium as well as targeting lymphatics with lipophilic drugs . Thus, this work will contribute to the eventual design of rational therapies to treat lymphedema, obesity, and other related disorders.