Our laboratory investigates the role of complex Asn(N)-linked glycans in regulating cell function and their contributions to pathologies such as autoimmunity, particularly Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and cancer. We focus on how genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors influence N-glycosylation in the Golgi and ER, impacting cell surface proteins and signaling pathways. This regulation affects immune cell differentiation and function, with implications for autoimmune diseases and cancer. Our work also explores novel immunotherapies targeting aberrant glycan expression in cancer, including Glycan-dependent T cell Recruiter (GlyTR) proteins, which selectively activate T cells to kill cancer cells.

Our lab is actively working towards the clinical implementation of GlyTR. Currently, we are exploring various immunotherapeutic routes, such as GlyTR proteins and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells (CAR-T), to demonstrate GlyTR’s potential as a pan-cancer therapeutic.