GlycoNet invests more than $1.2 million in glycomics research funding

GlycoNet is proud to announce funding of more than $1.2 million for four new cutting-edge research projects in areas including immunotherapy, chronic diseases, and immuno-oncology.

This spring, GlycoNet invited applications for multidisciplinary research from across the country. After a rigorous review process, four projects were selected and awarded more than $1.2 million for the duration of 1-2 years. Three of the projects were matched on a minimum 1:1 ratio with funding from industry, foundations and other institutions, and the fourth is in partnership with Realist Pharma. With these new contributions, GlycoNet has committed to date more than $12.7 million towards 45 glycomics research projects.

The latest grants will support research addressing a variety of health issues. Dr. Harry Brumer (University of British Columbia) will lead a project researching novel drug delivery to treat enteric inflammatory diseases in humans and livestock. Dr. Yvan Guindon (University of Montreal) plans to target gastrointestinal tumors with his project. Dr. Ratmir Derda (University of Alberta) aims to identify and characterize ligands to be used in future development of vaccines, production of cytotoxic T-cells, and other immunotherapy applications. Lastly, Dr. Uri Saragovi (Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research) will develop glycomimetic vaccines that target wide spread tumor-marker gangliosides.

Since its inception in February 2015, GlycoNet has recruited some of the brightest scientific minds in the field of glycomics to accelerate the process of translating scientific discoveries into tangible applications for human health. GlycoNet is a pan-Canadian initiative connecting more than 110 researchers in 29 academic and research institutions, as well as numerous industry and international partners, who collaborate to solve the unmet health needs of Canadians through the study of glycomics. Funded by the federal government through the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE), GlycoNet’s research program focuses on examining the effects of carbohydrates on biological systems in relation to five themes: antimicrobials, chronic diseases, diabetes and obesity, rare genetic diseases and therapeutic proteins and vaccines.

In addition to funding, GlycoNet facilitates partnerships between researchers and industry while providing access to core services, business development resources, training initiatives and intellectual property protection.

Detailed summaries of the latest projects are available at http://canadianglycomics.ca/projects/

For more information, please contact:
Elizabeth Nanak
Executive Director
Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet)
780.492.7784 / enanak@ualberta.ca