GlycoMIP Annual Meeting Expanded to Include Facility Clients

Zhen Shi and Gustavo Kashiwagi. Photo by Em Weddle.

The GlycoMIP 2025 annual meeting was recently held in Blacksburg to review research and program accomplishments.

GlycyMIP is a National Science Foundation-funded Materials Innovation Platform (MIP) and is housed in the Fralin Life Sciences Institute’s Steger Hall. Its affiliate institutions include the University of Georgia, Rensselaer, and Brandeis University.

Owen Mont explaining his research at the poster session. Photo by Em Weddle.

For the first time, users, or clients, from a federal research laboratory, the MIP industry in general, and those from multiple other universities participated. They attended the meeting as well as presented talks on their own GlycoMIP-supported research projects.

Attendees participated in research updates, poster sessions, project presentations, and networking activities enabling the GlycoMIP team and the wider research community of glycomaterials scientists the chance to learn from each other and plan for the future of GlycoMIP.

Isabela Coutinho at the poster session. Photo by Em Weddle.

A newly formed user committee met during the meeting to review the user program and to provide feedback and recommendations to the NSF and MIP Director, Professor Maren Roman of the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials. The committee, chaired by Assistant Professor Cassandra Callmann of the University of Texas in Austin, was pleased with MIP’s progress.

Hu Young and John Matson at the poster presentation. Photo by Em Weddle.

“It is clear that GlycoMIP is dedicated to accomplishing its goals and that it is a valuable resource to the glycomaterials community,” Callmann said. “We are particularly impressed with the community tools that GlycoMIP personnel are developing.”