GlyCORE: Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence (5P20GM130460-05P20)

GlyCORE: Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence (5P20GM130460-05P20) is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence | Ole Miss Skip to main site navigation Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence WHAT WE DO GlyCORE supports investigators in glycoscience through direct funding of selected research projects, establishes mentors for early career investigators, supports the recruitment of new faculty in glycoscience, and develops local and regional meetings for investigators to discuss their work.

Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence Carbohydrates are one of the four major classes of biomolecules and play a central role in almost all biological systems, from their central role in energy metabolism to roles in cell-cell communication and protein regulation that we are only beginning to understand.

Sustained and impactful innovation in glycoscience requires a concentration of both specific core research capabilities as well as expertise in the chemistry, biochemistry, and cellular biology of carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates.

The University of Mississippi hosts accomplished faculty in glycoscience in a wide variety of disciplines, including glycoside natural products isolation and characterization, glycan analysis, protein-carbohydrate interactions, and physiological responses to protein glycation.

Additionally, we have reached a critical concentration at the University of Mississippi of faculty members whose interests intersect with glycoscience from a variety of disciplines. This confluence has presented an opportunity to nurture these interests and develop a core of expertise necessary for the long-term development of institutional excellence in glycoscience, leveraging our unique history and resources in natural products.

Recognizing the opportunity to contribute to the future of glycoscience research, the University of Mississippi has established the Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence (GlyCORE), a new University-wide NIH COBRE Phase 1 center to study how carbohydrates and carbohydrate-containing molecules affect human health.

GlyCORE supports investigators in glycoscience through direct funding of selected research projects, establishes mentors for early career investigators, supports the recruitment of new faculty in glycoscience, and develops local and regional meetings for investigators to discuss their work. GlyCORE also hosts three central Research Cores to support these investigators with cutting-edge biomedical research tools.

Our goal to lower the barriers to entry to glycoscience for researchers across the spectrum of biomedical research is what makes GlyCORE innovative; we do not solely serve the dedicated glycoscience community but rather develop the infrastructure and dedicated expertise necessary to support glycoscience research from various communities.

In addition to our primary goal of serving The University of Mississippi, GlyCORE seeks to develop, support, and foster glycoscience throughout the Mid-South region (including Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri).

We encourage students, faculty, and scientists in the region to contact us regarding potential collaborations, participation in seminars and lecture series, and any other ways in which we can help support and promote glycoscience research at your institution.

Publication Acknowledgement Research reported in this publication was supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number P20GM130460. Check out what's going on in the Glycoscience Center for Research Excellence! Join GlyCORE’s mailing list to receive up-to-date news and links to our public events.

Mid-South Glycoscience Meeting 2026 Mid-South Glycoscience Meeting SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, August 6, 2026 Many thanks to everyone who attended and presented at our Mid-South Glycoscience Meetings during Phase 1 of the Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence (GlyCORE). Your participation, insights, and enthusiasm were instrumental in making each event a success.

We were inspired by the breadth and quality of the research shared by faculty, staff, and students, and it was exciting to see the collaborative spirit and innovative ideas that emerged from these gatherings. As we move into Phase 2, we look forward to continuing these important conversations and building on the strong momentum established in previous years.

The 2026 Mid-South Glycoscience Meeting is scheduled for August 6, 2026, at the Thad Cochran Research Center at the University of Mississippi. We hope you will join us to share your latest work, engage with colleagues across the region, and further strengthen the connections within our glycoscience research community. Please check back in the spring for additional information on registration and abstract submission.

Full details, including deadlines, presentation guidelines, and instructions for submitting abstracts, will be announced as they become available. Register for the Mid-South Glycoscience Meeting Please check back in June of 2026 for information about our next Call for Proposals.

GlyCORE Research Core Workshops The GlyCORE Seminar Series is a regular event hosted by the University of Mississippi's Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence, which features presentations by glycoscience researchers.

These seminars provide a forum for researchers to present and discuss their latest work, network with colleagues, and learn about advances in glycoscience, covering topics ranging from mass spectrometry and cancer research to glycomics and related fields. Purpose: To share and discuss the latest research in glycoscience, foster collaboration, and highlight advancements in the field.

Content: Talks often cover a wide range of topics within glycoscience, from specific research updates to broader topics like cancer metastasis and drug delivery methods. Hosts: The seminar series is a key event of GlyCORE, which is the Mid-South's dedicated glycoscience research center at the University of Mississippi. Audience: The series is open to all interested researchers and students, regardless of their level of experience.

Format: The seminars can be attended in person and are held in the School of Pharmacy’s Thad Cochran Research Center. External Events Related to Glycoscience Mark your calendars for the 53rd Society of Glycobiology Annual Meeting (SFG 2026), taking place November 8–11 at the Emory Conference Center Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. The meeting will bring together leading glycobiologists from around the world.

The program will include an exciting series of plenary lectures, short talks, and poster presentations from invited speakers and participants who are conducting cutting edge research in the glycosciences. Want a glimpse of what's ahead? Explore highlights in this photo gallery from our 52nd Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

Registration and abstract submissions will open in June!

Bookmark the SFG 2026 Annual Meeting webpage and stay tuned for more information Professor of Pharmacology, Research Professor in RIPS, and Affiliated Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Associate Professor of Biomolecular Sciences Principal Research & Development Chemist Professor of Pharmacology in Biomolecular Sciences and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Sciences Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Affiliate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Associate Professor of Biology Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Research Associate Professor in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Co-Director for the Center for Nano-Bio Interactions Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Online Graduate Programs for BioMolecular Sciences Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute Pharmaceutical Sciences Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Affiliate Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Affiliate Associate Professor of Biomolecular Sciences and Co-Director the Center for Nano-Bio Interactions GlyCORE supports four concurrent Junior Investigator Projects of $150,000/year of direct costs for three years and two Pilot Project Program Awards of $100,000/year of direct costs for one year.

The awards include four mechanisms of support: financial support of the research program, highest priority access to subsidized Research Cores, a required mentorship program, and research dissemination opportunities.

Research Project Leaders must hold a tenure-track faculty appointment (or equivalent at research institutes); however, established investigators who are making significant changes in their research to include glycoscience are also eligible to apply. The next scheduled Call for Proposals will begin in the Summer of 2026. For further information, please contact the Project Coordinator, Karin King Ballering.

An important component of the Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence (GlyCORE) is the Junior Investigator program.

The purpose of the program is to develop investigators with no history of major independent funding who have research interests in glycoscience (as well as more senior investigators making a major switch in research focus) into faculty serving as PIs on major independent research grants (i.e., R01 grants and their equivalents).

GlyCORE will support four concurrent JI Projects involving four mechanisms of support: financial support of the research program, highest priority access to subsidized Research Cores, a required formal mentorship program, and research dissemination opportunities.

Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Associate Professor of Biology Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Research Associate Professor in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences A key facet of the COBRE mechanism in Phase 1 of the Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence (GlyCORE) is the support of Early Career Investigators (ECIs) as they seek to develop research programs that can compete nationally for NIH independent funding.

In response, GlyCORE will fund four total two-year projects (two in Years 2 and 3, two more in Years 4 and 5) with $ 50,000 of direct cost support per year. Proposed research must fall within the field of glycoscience. All University of Mississippi investigators with research within the field of glycoscience, but not currently funded by GlyCORE, are eligible for the PPP award.

However, preference will be given to those eligible for Junior Investigator status under COBRE guidelines. PPP awardees will be selected by a competitive process. Following a Call for Proposals, a Letter of Intent containing a draft of the Specific Aims page must be submitted.

Initial screening will ensure research falls within the field of glycoscience All remaining candidates will submit an NIH R21-style proposal NIH R21-style proposals will be scored by the Internal Advisory Committee based on the NIH rubric Three PPP finalists and the scoring reports will be evaluated by the External Advisory Committee for final selection based on scientific merit and the PPP's ability to forward the strategic goals of GlyCORE Awards will be granted pending NIGMS approval Our Pilot Project Program Investigator Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Co-Director for the Center for Nano-Bio Interactions Glycoscience Student Advocates Glycoscience Student Advocates (GSA) is comprised of graduate and undergraduate students interested in or conducting glycoscience-related research at The University of Mississippi.

GSA strives to promote the field of glycoscience by encouraging the research, education, and training of interdisciplinary glycoscience trainees, as well as hosting seminars and knowledgeable speakers during monthly meetings. To request an invitation to join the GSA, don't hesitate to get in touch with Mario Djugovski at mdjugovs@go. olemiss.

edu . Tahir Ali, Vice President Shailaja Pokharel, Secretary Shiva Akhlaghi, Treasurer Ousman Boye, Event Manager Check back soon to see our upcoming events! Section 1 – The name of this student organization shall be: Glycoscience Student Advocates Section 2 – The abbreviated name or acronym for this student organization shall be GSA.

The remainder of the constitution will use GSA and Glycoscience Student Advocates interchangeably Article II – Purpose/Mission Statement Section 1 – The purpose of this student organization is to provide opportunities to promote glycoscience knowledge by encouraging the research, education, and training of interdisciplinary glycoscience trainees.

Section 2 – Glycoscience Student Advocates shall abide by all university policies and procedures. Section 1 – The University of Mississippi students must comprise 100% of the student organization’s membership. Section 2 – Members of GSA must be undergraduate or graduate students who are interested or conducting glycoscience related research within The University of Mississippi.

Section 3 – Glycoscience Student Advocates at The University of Mississippi complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and affirmative action and does not unlawfully discriminate against any applicant for membership based upon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.

Article V – Officers/Executive Board Section 1 – The officers of GSA shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Event Manager. Section 2 – A President is limited to serving a maximum of one term. Officers can re-run for any position.

All officer positions are open to all University of Mississippi students. Section 3 –The term length of each position starts May 1st and ends April 30th. Section 4 – In the event that >50% of the Officers and the GSA Faculty/Staff Advisor deem a current Officer unfit for service, that officer will be formally notified by email or written notice and relieved from service.

Section 5 – No reports from officers to the membership will be required. Section 1 – Election of officers shall be held in the month of April. The current president of GSA will oversee elections, announce the candidates and the results.

Section 2 – Elections will be held via an online poll, using anonymous ballots. In the event that two candidates have equal support after the initial election, then a runoff election will be held between the tied candidates. In the event of a tie during the runoff, currently elected officers and the departmental advisor will decide.

Section 3 – In the event that no candidates run for a position, or a vacancy within GSA arises, the current GSA President will appoint a candidate, which must be approved by the GSA Faculty/Staff Advisor. Section 1 – Regular meetings of this student organization shall be held every month. All officers have the authority to call a meeting, if necessary.

Section 2 – Quorum shall consist of half of the voting members. [A quorum is defined as the number or percentage of the total membership that must be present at a meeting.] Section 3 – Robert’s Rules of Order shall not apply to GSA meetings.

Section 1 – At least one full-time faculty or staff member from The University of Mississippi must serve as an advisor to the student organization. Section 2 – The GSA Faculty/Staff Advisor will be any faculty or staff member within the glycoscience interdisciplinary.

Section 3 – Responsibilities of the Advisor Role include: Facilitating effective communication between GSA Leadership, glycoscience community, and University Administrators to fulfill the GSA Mission Statement. Meeting with the President of GSA to authorize GSA finances and Officer Elections Article X – Finances (if applicable) Section 1 – Membership in GSA shall not require any dues.

Section 2 – The primary source of funding for GSA is the Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence (GlyCORE) at The University of Mississippi. The GSA Faculty/Staff Advisor will authorize ALL spending on behalf of GSA. Section 3 – Only the GSA Treasurer and President are authorized to spend money on behalf of GSA, following approval from the GSA Faculty/Staff Advisor.

In the event that another officer needs access to funds, written permission must be granted by either the Treasurer or the President, or Faculty/Staff Advisor. Section 4 – The outgoing Treasurer will arrange a meeting with the incoming Treasurer to explain financial processes and systems. Article XI – Constitutional Amendments Section 1 – The GSA constitution may be amended by a vote of 80% of GSA members.

Amendments must be proposed one meeting in advance (4 weeks). Changes are effective immediately upon their passage and it may take place at any meeting. Every time a student organization’s constitution is amended, a revised copy must be e-mailed to the Assistant Dean of Students for Leadership and Involvement.

Article XIII – Hazing Statement Section 1 – GSA agrees to abide by the University and Office of General Counsel Hazing Policy, which states: “The University of Mississippi prohibits hazing in any form.

According to the National Fraternity Executive’s Association and Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group, hazing is: any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.

Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shock; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips, or any other such activities carried on outside the confines of the house; publicly wearing apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities that are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual, or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution.

” Article XIIV – Dissolution Clause Section 1 – GSA will be effectively dissolved when there are fewer than two Officers elected to fulfill the positions of President and Treasurer. Section 2 – Money obtained from the Associated Student Body will be returned to ASB and shall be added to allocations designated for Registered Student Organizations. Section 3 – GSA will hold no outstanding debts with organizations other than ASB.

GlyCORE Trainee Travel Awards GlyCORE will make available limited funding for trainees who are attending and presenting their research at a glycoscience conference. The award will provide up to $1,000 for allowable travel expenses, and the trainee is limited to one award per budget year.

For more information and to apply for an award, please use the following link: Trainee Travel Award Application Internal Advisory Committee The Internal Advisory Committee, comprised of University of Mississippi experts knowledgeable in both science and administration issues, plays an important role in guiding GlyCORE.

The committee is responsible for overseeing initial application screening and first-level support in grantsmanship and facilitating advocacy for GlyCORE within the UM administration. Essential areas of support include a first-level screening of the Junior Investigator and Pilot Project Program awards, on-site support for faculty assessment, and promoting faculty recruitment in glycoscience.

Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Executive Director of the Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor of Pharmacy Administration, and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Director, the National Center for Natural Products Research; Distinguished Professor;Research Professor of Pharmacognosy; Program Director for Federal Drug Administration Program; and Research Professor and Coordinator for Natural Products Research in the Center for Water and Wetland Resources Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Environmental Toxicology in Biomolecular Sciences, Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Research and Graduate Affairs in Biomolecular Sciences Chair and Professor of Pharmacology & Environmental Toxicology in BioMolecular Sciences and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences External Advisory Committee The GlyCORE External Advisory Committee is comprised of five distinguished scientists representing the various fields of glycoscience.

The committee provides scientific guidance for program development and evaluation for all programs and investigators. The Committee is integral in administering awards for GlyCORE’s Junior Investigator Program and Pilot Project Program, leading a process designed to prepare investigators for NIH peer review.

Chair of External Advisory Committee Distinguished Research Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Member of Complex Carbohydrate Research Center Virginia Commonwealth University Alfred and Frances Burger, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry Director, Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development (ISB3D) Assistant Professor of Chemistry steven. d. townsend@vanderbilt.

edu Dr. Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences California Institute of Technology Arthur and Marian Hanisch Memorial Professor of Chemistry ACS Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Functional Glycomics Gateway Gordon Research Conferences National Institutes of Health – Common Fund Glycoscience Program NIH Grants and Funding – All About Grants Podcasts