Agenda
BLS 2026 Agenda
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026
Clinical Symposium | DAY 1
Speakers
7:15 AM - 7:45 AM
REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
7:45 AM - 8:00 AM
WELCOME REMARKS
Dhruv Singhal
William Repicci
Sumner Slavin
Philipp Kruppa
8:00 AM - 8:25 AM
Lipedema: What Do We Know and Where Are We Going?
Aaron Aday
8:25 AM - 8:55 AM
Diagnosing Lipedema: Beyond the Status Quo
Robert J. Damstra
8:55 AM - 9:20 AM
Adipose Stem Cells and Lipedema - Drivers of Dysfunctional Adipose Tissue?
Sara Al-Ghadban
9:20 AM - 9:45 AM
Defining the molecular signature of lipedema as a Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target
Tara Karnezis
9:45 AM - 10:10 AM
Dissecting the Genetic Architecture of Lipedema
Pia Ostergaard
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM
COFFEE BREAK & VISIT EXHIBITS
10:40 AM - 11:05 AM
Imaging and Deep-phenotyping of Lipedema: Observations from Bedside to the Microscope
Rachelle Crescenzi
11:05 AM - 11:30 AM
Utilizing Bioimpedance Spectroscopy to understand lipedema diagnosis in comparison to lymphedema and obesity
Louise Koelmeyer
11:30 AM - 11:55 AM
BATOLISA Study: Basic Toolbox for Lipedema Assessment
Jean-Paul Belgrado
11:55 AM - 12:00 PM
JOBST Lymphatic Research Grant Presentation
Astrid Riebeling
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
LUNCH BREAK & EXHIBITS
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Lymphatic function and anatomy in Lipedema - insights from Indocyanine Green Lymphography
Eva M. Sevick-Muraca
1:30 PM - 1:55 PM
Understanding hyperalgesia response within lipedema-affected tissue
Joseph Rutkowski
1:55 PM - 2:20 PM
Identification of Lipedema Pain-Specific Sensory Measures as a Basis for Future Diagnostics
Tim Hucho
2:20 PM - 2:45 PM
Health-related stigma, perceived social support, and their role in quality of life among women with lipedema
Johanna Falck
2:45 PM - 3:10 PM
Lipedema and Pain: What is the role of the psyche?
Gabriele Erbacher
3:10 PM - 3:40 PM
COFFEE BREAK & VISIT EXHIBITS
3:40 PM - 4:05 PM
The Role of Obesity in Lipedema
Tobias Bertsch
4:05 PM - 4:30 PM
What do we know about diet for Lipedema?
Andrzej Szuba
4:30 PM - 4:55 PM
Medical and Surgical Weight Loss for the management of Lipedema
Amanda G. Powell
4:55 PM - 5:20 PM
Effect of Weight Loss in Adipose Tissue Remodeling and Metabolic Function in Women with Lipedema
Vincenza Cifarelli
5:20 PM - 5:50 PM
Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Lipedema Tissue Stress
Leopoldo Cobos-Salinas
5:50 PM - 6:00 PM
CLOSING REMARKS
Dhruv Singhal
Philipp Kruppa
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
WELCOME RECEPTION
Friday, Feb. 20, 2026
Clinical Symposium | DAY 2
Speakers
7:15 AM - 7:45 AM
REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
7:45 AM - 8:00 AM
WELCOME REMARKS
Ad Hendrickx
Mojtaba Ghods
8:00 AM - 8:25 AM
Comprehensive Needs Assessment for Enhancing Self-Management
Lise Maren Kloosterman
8:25 AM - 8:50 AM
Living with lipedema: self-management techniques
Siobhan Huggins
8:50 AM - 9:15 AM
Multimodal Manual Therapy, Compression, Exercise, and Education Interventions for Women with Lipedema
Paula MC Donahue
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
Physio- and movement therapy for lipedema
Ad Hendrickx
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
COFFEE BREAK & VISIT EXHIBITS
10:15 AM - 10:40 AM
Lipedema Reduction Surgery: Concepts, Techniques, and Outcomes
Arin K. Greene
10:40 AM - 11:05 AM
Power-assisted Liposuction - Differences Between Lipedema and Lymphedema Surgery
Håkan Brorson
11:05 AM - 11:30 AM
Power-assisted Liposuction - Practical Tips and Techniques
Philipp Kruppa
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Liposuction in Lipedema with Tumescent Local Anesthesia - Long term results
Axel Baumgartner
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
LUNCH BREAK & VISIT EXHIBITS
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM
TRANSFER TO JOSEPH B MARTIN CENTER AROUND THE CORNER AT 77 AVENUE LOUIE PASTEUR
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
KEYNOTE ADDRESS | When Experts Disagree: The Art of Medical Decision-Making
Pamela Hartzband
Jerome Groopman
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
TRANSFER BACK TO MERCK LABORATORY
2:20 PM - 2:45 PM
Tumescent Local Anesthesia in Lipedema Reduction Surgery: Lessons Learned
Thomas Wright
2:45 PM - 3:10 PM
To WAL or Not to WAL? The role of Water-Assisted Liposuction in Lipedema Reduction Surgery
Ashwin Reddy
3:10 PM - 3:35 PM
Corrado Campisi has a title change: Benefits and Risks of Fibro-Lipo-Lymph-Aspiration with
Lymph Vessel Sparing Procedure (FLLA-LVSP) Liposuction for Lipedema Treatment
Corrado Cesare Campisi
3:35 PM - 4:00 PM
RCTs in lipedema reduction surgery: an update
Hildur Skuladottir
4:00 PM - 4:20 PM
COFFEE BREAK & VISIT EXHIBITS
4:20 PM - 5:15 PM
Care for Lipedema Around the World: Panel Discussion
Sandro Michelini
Rachelle Crescenzi
Ad Hendrickx
Stanley Rockson
Jonathan Kartt
Philipp Kruppa
Tobias Bertsch
Susan O'Hara
5:15 PM - 5:25 PM
CLOSING REMARKS
Dhruv Singhal
Philipp Kruppa
5:25 PM - 5:45 PM
TRANSFER TO JOSEPH B MARTIN CENTER AROUND THE CORNER AT 77 AVENUE LOUIE PASTEUR
5:45 PM - 7:00 PM
Jodie’s Body – Movie First Screening Sponsored by Celltaxis
Friday, Feb. 20, 2026
Patient Symposium | DAY 2
Speakers
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
WELCOME REMARKS
Dhruv Singhal
8:45 AM - 9:25 AM
Understanding Pain may help managing Lipedema
Tim Hucho
9:25 AM - 10:05 AM
What do we know about Imaging in Lipedema?
Rachelle Crescenzi
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM
COFFEE BREAK & EXHIBITS
10:35 AM - 11:15 AM
What do we know about weight management for Lipedema?
Vincenza Cifarelli
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
What do we know about GLP-1 Agonists for Lipedema?
Leopoldo Cobos-Salinas
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
LUNCH BREAK
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
KEYNOTE ADDRESS | When Experts Disagree: The Art of Medical Decision-Making
Pamela Hartzband
Jerome Groopman
2:30 PM - 3:10 PM
Physio- and movement therapy for Lipedema
Ad Hendrickx
3:10 PM - 3:50 PM
Lipedema Reduction Surgery: Lessons Learned
Mojtaba Ghods
3:50 PM - 4:10 PM
COFFEE BREAK & VISIT EXHIBITS
4:10 PM - 4:50 PM
What do we know about nutritional mangement for Lipedema?
Andrzej Szuba
4:50 PM - 5:30 PM
The Power of Patient Perspectives and Collaboration
Matt Carmody
5:30 PM - 5:35 PM
CLOSING REMARKS
Dhruv Singhal
Philipp Kruppa
5:45 PM - 7:00 PM
Jodie’s Body – Movie First Screening Sponsored by Celltaxis