Customizing sugar structures on proteins for better disease understanding
Official title: Microscale Enzymatic Remodeling of Molecular Glycosylation
Funded at West Virginia University · NIH-10791084 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how certain sugars attached to proteins can affect diseases, and it's creating a new way to easily change these sugars so that researchers can better understand their impact on health and find new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | West Virginia University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morgantown, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $228,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21GM152878-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10791084 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions influenced by glycosylation, such as certain cancers or autoimmune diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have conditions related to glycosylation or who are not involved in the research process may not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the role of specific sugar structures, known as glycans, that are attached to proteins and how they influence disease processes. By developing a new automated method to modify these glycans, researchers aim to create customized glycan standards that can be used in various biomedical applications. The approach involves using a specialized technique called capillary electrophoresis to quickly and efficiently alter glycan structures, making it easier to study their effects on health. This could lead to better insights into diseases and potentially new therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of diseases and lead to improved treatments by providing tailored glycan structures for therapeutic use.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of automated glycan remodeling is innovative, similar research has shown promise in understanding glycosylation's role in health and disease.
Where this research is happening
-
West Virginia University
Morgantown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holland, Lisa a — West Virginia University
- Study coordinator: Holland, Lisa a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.