Technology for Glycomics and Glycotechnology

NCRR supports four Biomedical Technology Research Centers focused on the unique analytical challenges of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. The primary mission of the centers is to create novel, highly effective technologies and methods, with a strong focus on support for the research community. Each center is interdisciplinary, incorporating biomedical, analytical, and informatics research. The first two of the four centers listed focus specifically on creating integrated glycomics technologies to be used in a system-wide context compatible with proteomics.

Integrated Technology Resource for Biomedical Glycomics—located at the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC) of the University of Georgia—is developing methods in separation science, mass spectrometry, quantitative PCR, and informatics for characterization of changes in glycoprotein and glycolipid structures in development and disease. (See the Biomedical Technology Resource Directory listing for more information.)

Principal Investigator: J. Michael Pierce, Ph.D.

National Center for Glycomics and Glycoproteomics at Indiana University is concentrating on developing a robust, integrated platform for high throughput characterization of glycan structures. This center incorporates separations science, mass spectrometry including ion mobility, microfluidics, and informatics projects.

Principal Investigator: Milos V. Novotny, Ph. D.

Research Resource for Integrated Glycotechnology—located at the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC) of the University of Georgia—focuses on new tools and methods for study of the three-dimensional structures and interactions of glycoconjugates, including NMR, mass spectrometry, molecular dynamics, crystallography, protein expression, and carbohydrate synthesis. (See the Biomedical Technology Resource Directory listing for more information.)

Principal Investigator: James H. Prestegard, Ph.D.

Resource for Mass Spectrometry in Biology and Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine develops cutting-edge technology and methods across the spectrum of biomedical mass spectrometry. A major theme of this center is the creation of more effective approaches for analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates, including glycolipids, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans. The center has a substantial program directed to application of these methods to problems in glycomics. (See the Biomedical Technology Resource Directory listing for more information.)

Principal Investigator: Catherine E. Costello, Ph.D.