{"id":14962,"date":"2021-08-16T14:30:36","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T04:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/?p=14962"},"modified":"2025-08-28T15:45:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T05:45:29","slug":"the-institute-for-glycomics-celebrating-21-years-of-making-a-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/2021\/08\/16\/the-institute-for-glycomics-celebrating-21-years-of-making-a-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"The Institute for Glycomics: Celebrating 21 years of making a difference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Established 21\u00a0years ago through Griffith University and Queensland Government\u00a0investment,\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Institute for\u202fGlycomics<\/span><\/a>\u00a0has become\u00a0one of Australia\u2019s flagship multidisciplinary biomedical research institutes.\u00a0With its remarkably unique research approach centred around\u00a0glycomics, the Institute\u00a0has\u00a0established\u00a0itself as a\u00a0<\/span>core\u00a0facility\u00a0nationally and internationally. This has, in turn, attracted world-renowned researchers and collaborators from the four corners of the globe.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But\u00a0what is\u00a0glycomics\u00a0and\u00a0why\u00a0is the\u00a0research\u00a0conducted\u00a0by the Institute\u00a0important\u00a0to us as individuals and as a global community?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The sugar language in our\u00a0body<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Every cell in our body is decorated with sugars which are essential to our health and wellbeing.\u00a0Glycomics\u00a0is the study of this\u00a0sugar\u00a0\u2018language\u2019\u00a0within our body, referred to as the\u00a0glycome.\u00a0Unfortunately,\u00a0this sugar language can\u00a0also\u00a0be used negatively by our body,\u00a0resulting in\u00a0major health problems.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A primary focus of the research undertaken by the\u00a0Institute\u00a0for\u00a0Glycomics\u00a0is discovering\u00a0the role that sugars play in disease.\u00a0With\u00a0this\u00a0knowledge,\u00a0researchers\u00a0can\u00a0develop new\u00a0diagnostics\u2014drugs\u00a0and vaccines\u00a0that can be used\u00a0to diagnose,\u00a0treat\u00a0and prevent\u00a0diseases\u00a0such as cancers, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative disorders.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Institute for\u00a0Glycomics\u00a02020\u00a0highlights<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Established in 2000, and now comprising over 200 researchers\u00a0and support staff, the\u00a0Institute for\u00a0Glycomics\u00a0is a world-leader in fighting diseases of global impact through discovery and translational science.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"An
Infographic supplied by the Institute of Glycomics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The\u00a0future<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With\u00a0its\u00a0outstanding track record in translating biomedical discoveries to the clinic, there is little doubt that\u00a0the Institute\u00a0for\u00a0Glycomics\u00a0will\u00a0play a major role in the discovery and development of next generation drugs,\u00a0vaccines\u00a0and diagnostics with the power to change our future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Infectious diseases pose some of the world\u2019s most significant health challenges, claiming over 17 million lives globally every year.\u00a0There is an overwhelming need to find new ways to combat diseases caused by bacterial, viral,\u00a0parasitic\u00a0and fungal pathogens.\u00a0Also, the\u00a0increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistance is a global concern,\u00a0so there is an urgent need to discover new approaches to address antibiotic-resistance and the lack of effective vaccines for some of the world\u2019s most serious viral and bacterial pathogens.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is estimated that\u00a0about 1 in 6 deaths globally is due to cancer\u2014a debilitating disease that claims the lives of over 9 million people every year.\u00a0The Institute\u2019s\u00a0cancer\u00a0glycomics\u00a0research specialists aim to\u00a0reverse\u00a0these alarming statistics through the discovery and development of new scientific technologies to fight the disease.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Photo
Image courtesy of the Institute of Glycomics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

World-leading research<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read\u00a0these recent blogs\u00a0about the\u00a0real-life\u00a0impact of\u00a0the research being undertaken at the Institute for\u00a0Glycomics:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n