# UCSD Biomedical Scientist Career Development Program in Glycoscience

> **NIH NIH K12** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $1,054,953

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
UCSD Biomedical Scientist Career Development Program in Glycoscience. Glycans are a vital part of all
biological systems and are involved in all disease processes, but progress in understanding these key
components of life has lagged far behind that of other macromolecules. Consonant with the 2012 National
Research Council report “Transforming Glycoscience: A Roadmap for the Future”, efforts such as the
Consortium for Functional Glycomics and the NIH Director’s Common Fund Glycoscience Initiative have
sought to correct some of the technical problems, such as deficiencies in glycan synthesis, lack of tools for
probing and analyzing glycans, and glycobioinformatics. The NHLBI Programs of Excellence in Glycosciences
began to fill another deficiency—the lack of young investigators fluent in the concepts of glycan chemistry and
biology and skilled in working with glycans. Meanwhile, the NHLBI convened a Working Group to consider
mechanisms to address the still unmet need for training young scientists and physician-scientists in
glycoscience, which led to this K12 Request for Applications. The leadership and faculty of the University of
California (UCSD) Glycobiology Research and Training Center have played key roles in many of the above
national efforts, while locally establishing coursework, the 3rd edition of Essentials of Glycobiology, core
facilities and symposia that have already contributed toward excellent training in glycoscience. With 18+ years
of experience, the Glycobiology Research and Training Center is uniquely positioned to respond to this request
for applications with a career development program that will train a new generation of biomedical researchers
versed in glycoscience. Recent graduates with MD, PhD or MD/PhD degrees will be recruited from local
physician-scientist and PhD-granting programs and via national advertising to train for 2-3 years under
established investigators in biomedical, biological and chemical sciences, who have a strong knowledge base
regarding glycans. Run by three PIs with expertise in each of these fields, the Program will provide structured
didactic and hands-on training in glycoscience through research projects relevant to the NHLBI mission.
Nineteen outstanding scientists with interest in glycoscience will serve as mentors. Trainees will be exposed to
currently available state-of-the-art technologies in glycan research through the GlycoAnalytics Core at UCSD,
by rotation through other Consortium sites, or through short courses offered at other institutions. The UCSD
Program will promote trainee diversity by active participation in national outreach programs and the existing
UCSD IRACDA program. Regular networking with Visiting Professors/Advisors and participation in local,
national and international symposia will round out their training. The UCSD Program will train as many 18
Scholars over the next 5 years, launching their careers as independent investigators who see glycans as
integra...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10197205
- **Project number:** 5K12HL141956-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffrey D Esko
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,054,953
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10197205

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10197205, UCSD Biomedical Scientist Career Development Program in Glycoscience (5K12HL141956-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10197205. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*