# Glycans in Blood Homeostasis and Disease

> **NIH NIH K12** · VERSITI BLOOD HEALTH, INC. · 2021 · $972,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In response to the urgent need to “transform and democratize glycosciences from a super-specialized research
domain into the mainstream of biology and clinical translation such that glycans become an integral component
of future scholars'/investigators' scientific thinking”, we present a unique, multi-PI, multi-center K12 career
development program referred to as Program for Medical GlycoSciences. This Program will address this
need with one-on-one and team-mentorship approaches to enable emerging generations of researchers to
acquire the strongest possible foundation in pursuing basic and applied glycobiology of relevance to
hematologic disorders. The 23-member Program Faculty is comprised of 1) clinicians trained in benign
hematology, transfusion medicine, immunology, and lysosomal storage diseases, and 2) basic scientists with
diverse expertise in biochemistry of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), glycan-binding receptors, glycan-modifying
enzymes, medicinal chemistry, and systems biology. The Program Faculty will work together to generate a
common “glyco-clinical” language that will allow cross-communication and fertilization between clinical and
basic researchers to train future generations of glyco-clinical scientists. This Program will achieve this mission
by seamlessly combining four major areas of investigation: 1) `Glycans In Hematopoiesis, Thrombopoiesis,
Platelets, And Vascular Biology'; 2) `Lysosomal Enzyme Function', 3) `Glycans In Lineage Fate Decision And
In End Effector Functions'; 4) GAGs In Hemostasis, Hematopoiesis And Inflammation'. The Specific Aims of
this Program are:
1. To identify and train ten exceptionally qualified Scholars in glycochemistry/glycobiology within context of
 adult/pediatric benign hematology, transfusion medicine or in clinical disciplines relating to the mission of
 the NHLBI, in a structured, mentored and protected environment. Each Scholar will receive 2 – 3 years of
 glycoscience skills development that focuses on acquisition, interpretation and publication of research,
 enabling federal (NIH/NSF) grant applications for transition to an independent academic position.
2. To seamlessly integrate clinically trained Scholars into glycosciences and basic science Scholars into
 translational medicine to affect efficient transfer of emerging glyco-concepts from bench to improved
 patient care.
3. To provide a structured environment such that at the end of the program, the majority of K12 Scholars will
 be: a) initiated in an academic glycoscience career, and b) at the cusp of leadership roles in translational
 glycoscience preferentially in adult/pediatric benign hematology, transfusion medicine or in clinical
 disciplines relating to the mission of the NHLBI.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10194580
- **Project number:** 5K12HL141954-04
- **Recipient organization:** VERSITI BLOOD HEALTH, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Nancy M. Dahms
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $972,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10194580

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10194580, Glycans in Blood Homeostasis and Disease (5K12HL141954-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10194580. Licensed CC0.

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