Jeffery Iliff, MD, PhD
Professor, UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences/ UW Department of Neurology
Associate Director for Research, VISN 20 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Lead, UW ADRC Research and Education Component
In this presentation from the 2026 Lymphatic Leadership Forum, Jeff Iliff, MD, PhD provides a translational overview of brain waste clearance, tracing how evolving concepts of glymphatic exchange and meningeal lymphatic drainage are reshaping our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. He highlights preclinical and human evidence connecting sleep, vascular function, aging, and amyloid/tau clearance, while emphasizing the opportunity to develop measurable interventions with potential implications for earlier diagnosis, risk stratification, and disease prevention.
The safety and effectiveness of the Symani® Surgical System for lymphatic reconstruction for brain disease has NOT been established by any regulatory agency.
The Symani Surgical System is indicated in the U.S. for soft tissue manipulation in open microsurgical procedures to perform:
- Anastomosis, suturing, and ligation microsurgery techniques on small blood vessels and lymphatic ducts between 0.1 and 2.5mm in open free-flap surgery of the breast, mouth, scalp, and extremities and in open lymphatic surgery of the extremities.
- Dissection of soft tissues.
Clinical indications vary by geography. Refer to global indications for more information. For risks, cautions, warnings, and full prescribing information, please reference Symani safety and performance information.
