Dr. Alitalo’s laboratory isolated and characterized the arterial endothelial tyrosine kinase Bmx, Tie1 angiopoietin receptor subunit and lymphangiogenic receptor VEGFR3, isolated the first lymphangiogenic growth factor, VEGF-C, and characterized VEGF-B as a growth factor for coronary and adipose vasculature. The laboratory demonstrated VEGF-C induced tumor lymphangiogenesis and metastasis, and inhibitors of the VEGFR-3 signal transduction pathway, which are in phase 2 clinical trials in age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema, and developed growth factor therapy for lymphedema, which is now in phase 2 clinical trial. - A recent finding by his laboratory was the discovery of meningeal lymphatic vessels.