Glycans are reservoirs of information that can be decoded at cell-cell interfaces.
We use state-of-the-art techniques from immunology and synthetic chemistry to engineer the glycocalyx and develop next-generation cell-based therapies.
How do glycans impact signalling at an immunological synapse?
Our interdisciplinary team of scientists at The University of Toronto work together to tackle challenging problems at frontier of glycoimmunology, chemical biology, and immunopharmacology
Chemists
Cell Biologists
Immunologists
Translational Scientists
We create libraries of synthetic glycans using a combination of synthetic organic and chemoenzymatic strategies.
Synthetic glycans are then introduced to immune cell in culture. These cells are assessed for viability and display of the engineered glycocalyx is verified using a variety of analytical strategies.
Glycoengineered cells are ‘co-cultured’ with other immune cells to assess the impact of the altered glycocalyx on antigen specific immune activation or suppression.
‘Hit’ cells with desirable activity are adoptively transferred into a host diseased animal and the impact of these cells on pathology is monitored. For example, glycoengineered cells with immunosuppressive character could be designed to attenuate progression of inflammatory arthritis.
A successful therapy produces a healthy animal and provides the framework for the development of next-generation treatments for human diseases.
Recent Updates (mm-yyyy)
01-2024: The group welcomes PCL297H students David and Yuliia to the lab.
01-2024: Landon is honoured to have been cross-appointed to the Department of Immunology | Tweet
09-2023: Welcome to Vanessa Affe, our newest M.Sc. student!
07-2023: The Edgar and Cui Labs forge a joint partnership with Moderna Tx. Tweet | Press Release
04-2023: We have received a New Frontiers in Research Fund: Exploration grant from the Federal Government of Canada to study the molecular details of how glycans regulate immune responses. This is held jointly with The Capicciotti (Queen's U) and Malaker (Yale) Labs. Tweet | Press Release
11-2022: The lab has been awarded an Ignite Innovation Grant from The Arthritis Society to study leukocyte glycosylation in axial spondyloarthritis. Tweet | Press Release
10-2022: Landon receives a Connaught New Researcher award. Tweet | Connaught Fund
09-2022: Welcome to our newest group members Fauzia, Paolo, Hani, and Sam. Tweet | New Group Photo
08-2022: Landon is honoured to have been cross-appointed to The Department of Chemistry. Tweet
06-2022: Congratulations to Melissa for successfully completing a 4th year thesis project in the lab! Tweet
06-2022: We have been awarded an NSERC Discovery Grant + Discovery Launch Supplement to support our synthetic chemistry research program.
05-2022: Aled is joining the lab as a PCL297H student. Welcome to the group.
02-2022: We have received a Pathway Grant from the Temerty Faculty of Medicine to support our glycoimmunology research program. Thank you to the TFoM and the Temerty Foundation.
01-2022: Eric joins the lab as a PCL297H student. Welcome Eric.
11-2021: Landon finally caved to peer pressure and has activated a Twitter account. Follow @LandonJEdgar for news, updates, thoughts, and commentary. #glycotime
09-2021: Landon's review article "Engineering the Sialome" is now published in ACS Chemical Biology
09-2021: Melissa joins the lab as an ANA498Y project student. Welcome Melissa.
09-2021: Dzhangar joins the lab as the first graduate student. Welcome Dzhangar.
08-2021: The Edgar Lab receives infrastructure funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation. Thank you CFI. Press release
07-2021: The Edgar Lab officially opens!