How sugar-coated proteins outside cells work
Characterizing extracellular glycoproteins and unraveling their functions
Researchers are developing better ways to find and read sugar-decorated proteins on cell surfaces and in body fluids to help detect and treat cancers and bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251820 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will build sensitive lab methods to capture glycoproteins from cell surfaces and secreted fluids, then read both their protein and sugar parts using advanced mass spectrometry. The team will work to separate surface versus secreted glycoproteins and map how they interact to control cell communication and immune responses. The work will use human samples and laboratory models to overcome challenges like low protein abundance and diverse sugar structures. The goal is to create a comprehensive map of extracellular glycoproteins that could point to biomarkers and drug targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer or bacterial infections who can provide blood, other body fluids, or tissue samples for biomarker research would be ideal candidates to contribute.
Not a fit: Patients without relevant samples to provide or without cancer/infection are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating in these basic-methods studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier, non-invasive detection of disease and reveal new targets for antibody or enzyme therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Related glycoproteomics approaches have identified useful biomarkers and drug targets before, but comprehensive mapping of extracellular glycoproteins and their interactions remains technically new and challenging.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Georgia Institute of Technology — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Ronghu — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Wu, Ronghu
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 below.