Immunoglycomics
Group Leader: Dr Bridget Stocker
In the same way that genomics and proteomics have fuelled discoveries in all biological sciences, glycomics, the unravelling of the role of glycoconjugates in biological processes, is now thought to be an emerging research field that will generate significant new scientific knowledge.
Though it is known that glycoconjugates play critical roles in cellular events, such as cell signalling, bacterial and viral infection, and the metastasis of tumour cells, detailed knowledge about the identity and mode of action of the glycoconjugates involved is lacking. This is largely because few research groups in the world have the right complement of chemical and immunological skills necessary for the synthesis and testing of key substrates.
To meet this need, we have established an immunoglycomics research initiative between the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), with the purpose of bringing New Zealand to the forefront of this exciting new research discipline.
At present, there are three research areas within the immunoglycomics initiative, asthma, cancer and tuberculosis.
