Georgia Glycoscience Symposium 2026
 

Wednesday, June 24, at the CCRC

7:30-8:00am   Main Entrance Corridor
Pick up name tag at registration table

8:00-8:45am   First Floor Lobby 
Continental Breakfast

8:50am
Auditorium (First Floor)
Symposium Kickoff by Dr. Michael Tiemeyer, Joint Director of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC) and the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), University of Georgia 


Session 1: Roles of Glycans in Bacterial Disease
Chair: Dr. Parastoo Azadi, Associate Director of CCRC-Service & Training, University of Georgia 

9:00-9:30am  
Dr. Katherine Hummels, Assistant Professor in Microbiology, University of Georgia 

9:30-10:00am   
Dr. Fikri Avci, Associate Professor of the Vaccine Center and Dept. of Biochemistry, Emory University, GA

10:00-10:30am
Dr. Christopher West, Director of the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), University of Georgia

10:30-11:00am  
Coffee Break (First Floor Lobby)


Session 2: Studying Glycans in Disease Using Mass Spectrometry
Chair: Dr. Ian Wallace, Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, CCRC, University of Georgia

11:00-11:30am   
Auditorium
Dr. Joshua Sharp, Professor of Pharmacology, Research Professor in RIPS, and Affiliated Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi

11:30-12:00pm
Dr. Richard Drake, Professor of Pharmacology & Immunology and Endowed Chair of Proteomics, Medical University of South Carolina

12:00-12:30pm
Dr. Kimberly Alonge, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, University of Florida

12:30-2:00pm 
Lunch (CCRC Breakroom)

2:00-2:30pm
Poster Flash Talks (in the Auditorium)

2:30-4:00pm
Poster Session (down First-Floor Hallways)


Session 3: Diseases of Carbohydrate Dysfunction 
Chair: Dr. Heather Flanagan-Steet, Associate Director of Research, Greenwood Genetic Center, SC
          
4:00-4:30pm
Dr. Natasha Zachara, Director of Immersive Training in the Glycosciences and Associate Professor of Biophysics and Physical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, MD
     
        4:30-5:00pm      
Dr. Richard Steet, Director of Research, Greenwood Genetic Center, SC

5:00-5:30pm
Dr. Lohitash Karumbaiah, Professor, Regenerative Bioscience Center and Department of Animal & Dairy Science, University of Georgia

5:30-5:45pm
Presentation of the Darvill/GRA Research Scientist Excellence
Award and one other to be announced 

5:45-6:30pm
Reception (First Floor Lobby)
End of Symposium


6:30-8:30pm
Catered Dinner in the Break Room (Second Floor) 
Invitation Only