Transforming Glycoscience

A new focus on glycoscience, a field that explores the structures and functions of sugars, promises great advances in areas as diverse as medicine, energy generation, and materials science, this report finds. Glycans-also known as carbohydrates, saccharides, or simply as sugars-play central roles in many biological processes and have properties useful in an array of applications. However, glycans have received little attention from the research community due to a lack of tools to probe their often complex structures and properties. Transforming Glycoscience: A Roadmap for the Future presents a roadmap for transforming glycoscience from a field dominated by specialists to a widely studied and integrated discipline, which could lead to a more complete understanding of glycans and help solve key challenges in diverse fields. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 The Landscape of Current Research in Glycoscience 3 Glycoscience in Health, Energy, and Materials 4 Examples of Outstanding Questions in Glycoscience 5 The Toolkit of Glycoscience 6 Deciphering the Glycome for Human Health and Sustainability: Findings, Recommendations, and Roadmap References Appendix A: Committee Member Biographies Appendix B: The Landscape of Current Research in Glycoscience: Additional Information Appendix C: Workshop on the Future of Glycoscience: Agenda and Participants Appendix D: Input Received Online and Through Other Data Gathering Appendix E: Glossary