The objectives of the Glycoscience Training Program (GTP) for Predoctoral Students are to train students in research that focuses on both the chemical and biological aspects of glycans and glycoconjugates, and their expression, as they relate primarily to biomedicine. The rationale for this program was highlighted by the National Academies' 2012 study entitled Transforming Glycoscience: A Roadmap of the Future, which demonstrated the great potential that Glycoscience holds for biomedicine, as well as other applications such as bio-energy. Glycoscience involves the study of the function and structure of glycans, the enzymes that regulate their expression, and the genes and regulatory sequences that are involved. The GTP has 22 faculty trainers/mentors from the Chemistry, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Infectious Disease, Microbiology Departments and the Bioinformatics Institute. It accepts students from both the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences and Chemistry department portals. Appointments are for 2 years, after which trainees are supported by their trainers. Trainees conform to the requirements of the department/institute of their trainers' appointment. Key activities are a seminar series, annual retreat, monthly breakfast presentations, special classes such as the ASBMB Scientific Communication short course, and biotechnology career development workshops. All trainees are predoctoral students, and we are requesting six full-time appointments, each for a two year duration. The intended outcomes for our students are to progress to a postdoctoral appointment and/or to enter the workforce in the biotechnology industry.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal is to fund the Glycoscience Training Program for Predoctoral Students. This program trains students in the research of glycans and glycoconjugates, which are key to our physiology. Altered glycans can result in disease and the Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG), over 110 different CDG are known, which cause birth defects.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32GM107004-07
Application #
9960521
Study Section
NIGMS Initial Review Group (TWD)
Program Officer
Fabian, Miles
Project Start
2014-07-01
Project End
2022-06-30
Budget Start
2020-07-01
Budget End
2021-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Georgia
Department
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
004315578
City
Athens
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30602
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Dallabernardina, Pietro; Ruprecht, Colin; Smith, Peter J et al. (2017) Automated glycan assembly of galactosylated xyloglucan oligosaccharides and their recognition by plant cell wall glycan-directed antibodies. Org Biomol Chem 15:9996-10000