“In analogy to the current situation in Cosmology, glycans can be considered as the ‘dark matter of the biological universe: a major and critical component that has yet to be fully incorporated into the ‘standard model’ of biology.”
Ajit Varki and Stuart Kornfeld, Essentials of Glycobiology, 3rd Edition, 2017.
Welcome to Glyco@Oz
the society connecting Australian glycoscientists
We are the society that connects and informs Australian glycoscientists across institutions, career levels and interest areas.
Do you speak glyco? Your cells do.
Every living cell on this planet is covered by a glycocalyx, which is a dense layer formed by glycoproteins, glycolipids, proteoglycans and polysaccharides. Cell surface, extracellular matrix and also body fluid proteins are extensively modified with specific sugar moieties, so called glycans. These glycans, in conjunction with their respective proteins, form the basis for a universal language (glycome) used between cells that is also abused by pathogens and cancer cells. It is well established that even small changes in the cellular glycosylation can severely affect the function and behaviour of cells. Studies addressing global changes in glycosylation (glycomics) have clearly shown disease-associated alterations of the glycome, but the impact of such changes on the function of individual glycoproteins can just be studied individually for each protein and protein-ligand complex (glycoproteomics).
The Australian Glycoscience Society (Glyco@Oz)
7th Australasian Glycoscience Symposium and 15th Asian Community of Glycoscience and Glycotechnology (ACGG)
We are excited to announce the upcoming 7th Australasian Glycoscience Symposium (7th AGS) in conjunction with the 15th Asian Community of Glycoscience and Glycotechnology (ACGG), taking place in Tsukuba, Japan – 3rd-6th October 2026.
This international meeting will bring together researchers from across the globe to share the latest discoveries and innovations in glycoscience. Hosted by Organizing Chair, Professor Atsushi Kuno (AIST, Japan), the symposium promises cutting-edge science, international networking, and a unique cultural experience in the heart of Japan’s science city.
Further details regarding abstract submissions, registration, and the scientific program will be announced in the coming months.
AGS 2026 Protein Metrics ECR and Shimadzu MCR Awardees
Congratulations to Prof Morten Thaysen-Andersen!
It is a great pleasure for us to announce the recipient of our 2026 Shimadzu MCR Award*, please join us in sending a big congratulations to Prof Morten Thaysen-Andersen.
Prof Morten Andersen’s research explores how the complex glycoproteome affects the immune system in inflammation (sepsis), host-pathogen interactions and cancer. After completing his PhD in 2009 at the University of Southern Denmark, he relocated to Australia to complete two fellowships awarded by the Danish Research Agency and the Australian Research Council. Enabled by a Cancer Institute NSW fellowship, he established in 2015 the Analytical Glycoimmunology lab at Macquarie University. He is currently an ARC Future Fellow and was recently recruited to the Institute for Glyco-Core Research (Nagoya Univ, Japan) as Visiting Professor to establish a satellite lab in clinical glycoproteomics.
*The 2025 MCR Award is kindly supported by
Congratulations to Dr Jonathan Du!
We are pleased to announce the recipient of our 2026 Protein Metrics ECR Award*, please join us in sending a big congratulations to Dr Jonathan Du.
Dr Jonathan Du obtained his PhD in small molecule crystallography from the University of Sydney in 2020 and completed his postdoctoral studies with a focus on IgG-specific glycan modifying enzymes with Professor Eric Sundberg at Emory University (2020-2022). He joined the Sydney Pharmacy School in 2023 as a Lecturer and started an independent research program studying glycoslation in Alzheimer’s Disease funded by the NIH. He was recently awarded an ARC DECRA fellowship and will be joining the Institute of Biomedicine and Glycomics at Griffith University in 2026. His research utilises molecular biology, structural biology and biophysical techniques to understand the role of antibody-glycosylation in modulating the immune response and to develop novel therapeutics.
*The 2025 ECR Award is kindly supported by
Celebrating Our New AGS Lifetime Member
Congratulations to Distinguished Professor Nicolle H Packer!
The Board of Directors of the Australian Glycoscience Society is excited to announce that Distinguished Professor Nicolle H Packer (Macquarie University) has been awarded with an AGS Lifetime membership for her pioneering role in glycomics research and profound contributions to strengthening the glycosciences in Australia and beyond.
We congratulate Nicki on this well deserved recognition!
Interested in becoming a Glyco@Oz member?
Join the Australian Glycoscience Society (AGS) today to become part of a growing and vibrant network of Australian and international glycoscientists who share a passion for the ‘science of sugars’.
Benefits of AGS membership include:
- Connect with glycoscientists across affiliations, disciplines and career levels
- Stay up to date with news across the glycosciences
- Influence the direction of the glycosciences in Australia and abroad
- Access to awards, prizes and travel support
- Reduced registration fee at Australasian Glycoscience Symposia
Get in Touch
Glyco@Oz is still being developed, therefore any feedback regarding the webpage layout and content is highly appreciated.
Please do not hesitate to contact us via email or by filling in the form below.
Sustaining members
Kindly supported by
