About our research interests
Glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification of proteins, lipids and other organic molecules with roles in immune recognition, evasion and cell-cell communication.
My research interests are focused on the glycobiology of immune responses and the role of glycans in the binding interactions of ligands and receptors, in particular immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and Fc gamma receptors. We use a combination of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to analyse and sequence glycans and biophysical techniques such as surface plasmon resonance to analyse interactions. We are also interested in the role of glycosylation in the effector activities of immune cells such as ADCC and the glycoengineering of therapeutically important proteins such as monoclonal antibodies and the role of glycosylation in cancer and metastasis. In addition we research the glycobiology of ion channels such as the pain sensing sodium channel and the blood brain barrier. We have had numerous industrial collaborative projects on monoclonal antibodies, development of an Fc gamma receptor analytical platform and hormones.