Lymphedema Special Interest Group

Purpose:
Access to networks
Access to diagnosis and good treatment for people at risk or with lymphedema

Mission:
Education of professionals: learn from each other
Research: share knowledge to improve well-being of people living with lymphedema

Objectives:

• Knowledge available for all members
• Exchange skills
• Research translation to daily practice

Lymphedema Special Interest Group Leadership:

Special Interest Group Lead

Janine Hidding (The Netherlands, Europe)

Contact Information
Email Janine Hidding

 

 

Special Interest Group Education Facilitator

Sofia Jordão (Portugal, Europe)

Sofia Jordão holds the position of Assistant Professor at Egas Moniz School of Health & Science. In this capacity, she serves as the course leader for several curricular units, notably in the Promotion of Health in Physiotherapy. Her focus lies in the development of innovative collaborative projects aimed at addressing disparities in access to health within diverse populations. She’s also an integrated member of Ciiem (Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Center). Additionally, Sofia has extensive clinical experience in decongestive lymphatic therapy, particularly in the management of lymphedema. Accordingly, she teaches courses related to physiotherapy in lymphology, oncology, and palliative care.

Contact Information
Email Sofia Jordão
ORCiD
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Special Interest Group Research Facilitator

Nele Adriaenssens (The Netherlands, Europe)

Nele Adriaenssens is an Associate Professor in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), where she has been teaching since October 2012. She earned her MSc in 2008 and her PhD in 2012, with her dissertation focusing on the lymphatic and neuromusculoskeletal side effects of breast cancer treatments. She teaches a variety of courses, including those on lymphology, oncologic rehabilitation, and rehabilitation psychology.

Nele is a Principal Investigator in the Rehabilitation Research group (RERE) and a member of Anatomical Research and Clinical Studies (ARCS). Her research primarily centers on lymphology and oncology, and she has an extensive international record of publications and projects. Nele supervises and serves on committees for numerous PhD students worldwide and actively contributes to international conferences in lymphology, oncology, and hematology. Additionally, she coordinates the oncologic rehabilitation program and (lymph)edema consultation at the Medical Oncology Department of UZ Brussel.

Nele is a co-founder (2016) and past president (2021-2023) of the Belgian Society of Lymphology (BeSL). She is also the General Secretary of the European Society of Lymphology and has been a member of the International Society of Lymphology since 2012.

Contact Information
Email Nele Adriaenssens
ORCiD
LinkedIn
Research