LF Staff on site for the first samples collected at Lumina.
Clinical staff prepping material for collection.
We’re excited to share a new milestone for the Lipedema Foundation Biobank: our first two clinical collaborations are officially live, expanding opportunities for patients to participate in Lipedema research through trusted clinical partners.
Launched in 2025, the Lipedema Foundation Biobank is a foundational initiative designed to accelerate research into the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of Lipedema. By securely collecting biospecimens such as blood, urine, saliva, adipose, and other tissue types, along with relevant health information, the Biobank provides researchers with high-quality, well-annotated samples needed to advance scientific discovery.
These first clinical collaborations represent an important step forward in making Biobank participation accessible through care settings serving people with Lipedema.
Introducing our First Clinical Biobank Site: Joel Wellness Clinic (Livonia and Ann Arbor, MI)
We are proud to announce Joel Wellness Clinic in Michigan as the Lipedema Foundation Biobank’s first clinical site, beginning in December 2025.
Dr. Joel, members of her staff, and LF Staff members on the first day of Biobank collection at Joel Wellness Clinic.
Joel Wellness Clinic is a weight loss, Lipedema, and primary care practice with locations in Livonia and Ann Arbor, led by Binju Joel, MD, a dual board-certified physician in Obesity Medicine and Internal Medicine with more than 20 years of medical experience. Dr. Joel is deeply engaged in Lipedema care, education, and research.
Through this collaboration, patients receiving care at Joel Wellness Clinic are being offered the opportunity to contribute samples and data as part of their routine care, helping grow this vital research resource.
This partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter for Lipedema research, and we are grateful to Dr. Joel and her team for helping move the field forward, one sample, one patient, and one collaboration at a time. Patients interested in learning more about participation opportunities can contact Joel Wellness Clinic directly.
Introducing our Second Clinical Biobank Site: Lumina Vascular Health & Laser Clinic (Seattle, WA)
Sarah Whitehead, MN, ARNP and LF staff on the day of the first Biobank Collection Event at Lumina Vascular Health & Laser Clinic.
We are also excited to announce Lumina Vascular Health & Laser Clinic as a clinical collaborator for the Lipedema Foundation Biobank beginning in January 2026, led by Sarah Whitehead, MN, ARNP.
Lumina Vascular Health and Laser Clinic partners with the Lipedema Foundation to offer individuals with Lipedema the opportunity to participate in research designed to advance understanding of this under-recognized condition. Sarah brings more than a decade of specialized vascular experience, including extensive work evaluating and treating lower-extremity edema, lymphedema, and Lipedema.
As a partner clinician in the Lipedema Foundation’s inaugural Biobank collection event in 2025, Sarah played an active role in launching the Biobank and continues to support its growth as a valued clinical collaborator. Through this partnership, patients receiving care at Lumina may be invited to participate in Biobank-related research activities.
Participants may be invited to take part in a research exam, complete surveys, and provide blood, urine, and/or saliva samples. The information and biospecimens collected support ongoing efforts to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of Lipedema. Patients interested in learning more about participation opportunities can contact Lumina directly.