The Lymphangiomatosis & Gorham’s Disease Alliance (LGDA), LGD Alliance-Belgium, and the Lymphatic Malformation Institute (LMI) are proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Alfie Milne Young Investigator Award.
Together, the three organizations raised $50,000 this year, funding two innovative research projects that aim to advance understanding and treatment of Complex Lymphatic Anomalies (CLAs).
The Alfie Milne Young Investigator Award supports promising early-career researchers whose work has the potential to drive scientific breakthroughs and improve outcomes for patients living with rare lymphatic diseases. The 2025 recipients exemplify the creativity, rigor, and compassion that define the next generation of researchers in this field.
Lotte E.R. Kleimeier, MSc
Radboudumc Amalia Children’s Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Project Title: Optimizing targeted therapy in patients with central conducting lymphatic anomalies (CCLA)
Summary:
Central Conducting Lymphatic Anomalies (CCLA) cause severe functional defects in the lymphatic system, leading to poor drainage, fluid buildup, and life-threatening complications. While molecularly targeted therapies have shown promise, evidence-based dosing strategies remain limited—particularly across different age groups.
Lotte Kleimeier’s research seeks to close this gap by integrating physiologically based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) modeling with real-world clinical data. This cutting-edge approach combines laboratory, computational, and clinical methods to better understand how targeted drugs behave in the body and to optimize dosing for children and adults with CCLA.
The project will lay the foundation for individualized, age-appropriate treatment strategies and support future clinical trials in this underserved patient population.
Svatava Merkle, MD
Hematology-Oncology Clinical Fellow, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Project Title: Targeted therapies for Kaposiform Lymphangiomatosis (KLA)
Summary:
Kaposiform lymphangiomatosis (KLA) is a rare and life-threatening vascular anomaly that primarily affects children and young adults. Despite current treatments like sirolimus, many patients continue to face progressive disease and limited long-term improvement.
Dr. Merkle’s research focuses on developing more effective and less toxic treatment strategies by targeting the genetic and molecular pathways that drive KLA. Building on recent discoveries of NRAS mutations in KLA, her project will test newer targeted drugs, including alpelisib (a PI3K inhibitor) and combination therapies that block both the PI3K and MAPK pathways. Using a human cell model that closely mimics KLA, this work aims to generate vital preclinical data to guide future clinical trials and offer new hope for improved patient outcomes.
Building on the inspiration of Alfie Milne and his family, the award reinforces our community’s shared commitment to advancing research and improving outcomes for patients worldwide.
“The Alfie Milne Young Investigator Award represents more than just funding—it’s an investment in the future of rare disease research,” said Michael Kelly MD, PhD, Executive Director of the LGDA. “By empowering early-career scientists like Lotte and Dr. Merkle, we’re fostering the next generation of innovators who will shape how we understand, diagnose, and treat complex lymphatic anomalies.”
Through the collaboration of LGDA, LGD Alliance-Belgium, and LMI, the Alfie Milne Young Investigator Award continues to fuel the next wave of discovery—transforming knowledge into tangible hope for those living with CLAs.
