European Glycoscience Community: Launch event

Wednesday, 16th June 2021

We are extremely excited to announce this (online) event on 16th June 2021 from 10:00 to 14:00 (CET).

We will be:

  • Celebrating the great work that has been completed during CarboMet* (https://euroglyco.com/ ) and its output which has been captured in the Glyco 2030 roadmap: A roadmap for Glycoscience in Europe, including 4 policy papers,

and

  • Formally launching the European Glycoscience Community (EGC) to build on the drive and passion of those involved and extend our membership to continue this with the Glyco 2030 roadmap as it’s framework.

* With the continued growth of glycoscience and glycotechnology, CarboMet engaged with the glycoscience community across Europe to identify the current state of the art, and in particular future innovation and technological challenges, in carbohydrate metrology. It was funded through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, which following an extension is due to complete at the end of June this year.

It brought together key players and stakeholders in the following:

Bio Sectors:

  • Biopharmaceuticals
  • Diagnostics and Precision Medicine
  • Food, nutrition & gut microbiome
  • Sustainable Materials

and Enabling Technology Areas of:

  • Scalable Manufacturing
  • Synthesis
  • Sequencing and
  • Bioinformatics tools including Databases.

It also recommended the formation of a pan-European Glycoscience Community to enact, deliver and advance areas highlighted in Glyco 2030.

At this event we will be sharing with you as well as creating an opportunity to hear from you:

  • The Journey of CarboMet to the Glyco 2030 Roadmap and the European Glycoscience Community.
    • Sharing the intent of the European Glycoscience community as its transitions from a grant funded project to a thriving, self-sustaining membership that evolves as the science and industry evolves.
    • Encouraging and engaging with a diverse membership across academia, clinical environments and industry and at all levels, in particular our young scientists. Looking at how we increase membership and input from across all of Europe.
    • Translating the science to commercialisation and
    • Providing a forum that guides and provides career development and opportunities.
    • Looking at how this needs to be structured going forward to be self-sustaining and maintaining its momentum.
      • Sabine Flitsch, University of Manchester (Project Coordinator role in CarboMet)
      • Dr Syed Ahmed, University of Manchester (Project Manager, CarboMet)
  • You will be hearing from a panel of speakers, including Q&A, who will focus on selected areas (see below) that link to the Glyco 2030 roadmap. They will be sharing an understanding of what the current state is, and thoughts on the future environment, along with the possible opportunities and challenges within their area of expertise aligned against the different sectors and technologies bring:
    – Biopharmaceutical – Glycoengineering: “Synthesis and Sequencing and Bioinformatics aspects”
    Dr Horst Bierau, Chemistry and Manufacturing Controls, Merck Serono,
    – Glycomics a new frontier in drug discovery: “Scalable Manufacturing and Synthesis aspects”
    Prof. Geert-Jan Boons, Chair of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht University.
    – Food, Nutrition & Gut Microbiome: “Setting the scene for Food, Health and Microbiome”.
    Dr Maria Traka, Deputy Head Food Databanks National Capability (FDNC), Group Leader in Food and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience
    – Sustainable Materials: “Scalable Manufacturing and Policy on compostable resins”
    Dr Gregory Coue, Technical Manager, Kompuestos
    – Policy Engagement: European Grants – Current and future thoughts/perspective
    Marco Cavallaro, Research and Innovation, Project Manager, Accelopment

You will then have the choice to either stay on and participate in one of the following interactive sessions, or leave at this point:

  • Communities of Practices – Interactive breakout sessions.

You will hear more about these Communities of Practices that are being set up to continue the work across the Bioindustry sectors and Enabling Technologies in the opening session. The format for these will still be new and in their forming stage, so your input will be valued and appreciated and if appropriate may going forward as a participating member too.

These form part of the transition and continuation from CarboMet to the European Glycoscience Community, where there are gaps, these will be explored as the community evolves.

  • Biopharmaceuticals – Chemical Biology and Vaccines: Dr. Fabrizio Chiodo
  • Biopharmaceuticals – Glycoengineering: Dr. David Falck
  • Diagnostics & Precision Medicine: Glycomics a new frontier in drug discovery: Dr. Ben Schumann and Dr. Radka Fahey
  • Food, Nutrition & Gut Microbiome: Dr. Lucy Crouch and Prof. Nathalie Juge
  • Sustainable Materials: To be confirmed.
  • Synthesis (Standards): Dr. Jennifer Hendel and Dr. Daniel Spencer
  • Sequencing (Analytics): Dr. Isabelle Compagnon and Dr. Paula Domann
  • Bioinformatics & Databases: Prof. Frederique Lisacek and Dr. Elisa Fadda
  • Policy Engagement: Prof. Lokesh Joshi

After the closing comments, there will be a Networking Opportunity: We will be keeping breakout rooms open for up to 30mins, so if you would like to catch up with someone afterward there will be that opportunity.

Who should attend:
From across, although not limited to, Europe, and across any relevant areas: academia, clinical environments, industry etc. It is open to all within these environments; those with experience to share and those looking to learn more and considering being part of this. We would particularly like to encourage those in the early stages of their career. Those already involved in any glycoscience community where we can learn and complement each other.

To Register:
To register please use the following link https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAqduGqqjojHt1n-Ie-xHO_Pib7bKtelx68

When you register if you intend to stay for the interactive session, you will be asked for your preference of which CoP you would like to participate in. In case we need to manage numbers, you will be asked your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd preference.