Developing new methods to label sugars for better understanding of diseases

Methods for Isotope Labelling of Glycans

NIH-funded research University of Colorado · NIH-10684319

This study is looking at new ways to tag sugars with special markers to help scientists understand how different sugar structures affect our health, especially in relation to things like human milk and proteins, so we can learn more about how our bodies work and what causes diseases.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Colorado NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10684319 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on improving techniques for labeling carbohydrates with stable isotopes, which can help scientists analyze how changes in sugar structures relate to health and disease. The project aims to create a non-destructive method for introducing carbon-13 isotopes into both simple and complex sugars. By optimizing these labeling techniques, the researchers will study important sugar types that play a role in human health, including those found in human milk and certain proteins. This work could enhance our understanding of metabolic processes and disease mechanisms.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that affect carbohydrate metabolism or those interested in the role of glycans in health.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to carbohydrate metabolism may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnostic tools and treatments for diseases related to carbohydrate metabolism.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using stable isotopes for metabolic profiling, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Boulder, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions DiseaseDisorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.