Penn researchers will develop advanced imaging methods for the liver and intestinal lymphatic system after being awarded up to $7.8 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Lymphatic Imaging, Genomics, and pHenotyping Technologies (LIGHT) program, according to a March 16 announcement. The project is led by Maxim Itkin, MD, director of the Penn Center for Lymphatic Disorders, with a multidisciplinary team from Penn, Monash University, and 3DT Holdings. Kimberley Steele, MD, PhD, serves as program manager at ARPA-H.
The research aims to address gaps in understanding the lymphatic system’s role in various medical conditions. Millions of Americans live with lymphatic dysfunctions such as lymphedema. Because the lymphatic system is not well understood, patients are often misdiagnosed and may receive inappropriate treatments.
“In many medical conditions, there is a gap between the symptoms someone is experiencing and our understanding of what underlying processes might be causing them,” said Itkin. “We believe that in a large number of conditions, this missing piece is the lymphatic system, if only we could see it.”
The team will focus on imaging the intestines and liver—organs responsible for about 80 percent of lymphatic flow in the body. Current imaging techniques are limited; existing procedures require inserting a needle into a lymph node and using dye with X-ray or MRI scans. These methods are invasive and do not provide a complete picture of deep organ function.
“While we can use imaging techniques, like angiography, to see blood moving through blood vessels throughout the body, we don’t yet have the technology to be able to see how exactly lymph interacts with tissues and other systems,” said Itkin. He added that better imaging could help understand diseases such as heart failure or autoimmune disorders.
The new project will develop two contrast agents: one taken orally for intestinal lymphatics and another given intravenously for liver visualization. Both agents are designed to work with CT or MRI scans.
“Ultimately, our goal is to give patients answers where none currently exist. With more precise imaging, we can begin to understand conditions that have long gone unexplained,” said Itkin.
Co–principal investigators from Penn Medicine include David Cormode, PhD; Andrew Tsourkas, PhD; Peter Noel, PhD; Grace Gang, PhD; Walter Witschey, PhD; and Terence Gade, PhD.
