About the Alliance
Objectives
The major objective of the Alliance is to discover and develop molecular markers for early detection of cancer by conducting innovative, translational research in the field of complex carbohydrates.
The seven NCI-supported Tumor Glycomics Laboratories use a variety of platforms and technologies to achieve the following objectives:
- Identify cancer-related abnormalities associated with glycoconjugates that have the potential to serve as cancer biomarkers;
- Place highest priority on biomarkers for early detection and prevention of cancer, however, markers for diagnostic clinical testing of cancer or stratification of cancer risk also fulfill the mission of the Alliance;
- Function as a highly collaborative consortium facilitating cancer glycan biomarker discovery and development;
- Contribute to the development of glycan structural databases maintained by the Consortium for Functional Glycomics; and
- Promote collaboration and communication with other relevant programs at NCI, other Institutes within NIH, and academic and industrial leaders where the research interests coincide with the mission of the Alliance.
Toward these goals, each laboratory has assembled components to address biomarker discovery, carbohydrate analysis, clinical specimens, and statistical support. Together the Alliance is pursuing such research matters as: glycan structural analysis, glycan profile comparisons, glycan and lectin array technologies, carbohydrate-specific monoclonal antibodies, glycan biomarkers derived from body fluids, human tumor cell lines, and glycosyltransferase expression.
The laboratories conduct open discussions of research developments and strategies to efficiently interrogate complex carbohydrates of clinical significance. All new structures elucidated from the Alliance's efforts are deposited into databases maintained by the Consortium for Functional Glycomics, a key partner organization along with the Early Detection Research Network.
Members of the Alliance's Coordinating Unit (CU) oversee and coordinate activities. They review data; offer recommendations on strategies to expedite biomarker progression to validation status; determine when specific biomarker studies are ready for larger scale clinical validation; and monitor study results.
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