SPEAKERS

Distinguished Scientist

Pauline Rudd, Ph.D.

Pauline Rudd is a leading biochemist and molecular biologist, currently an Emerita Professor at University College Dublin. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, where she also completed postdoctoral research in molecular genetics.

Dr. Rudd’s research focuses on cellular signaling and protein interactions, with applications in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. She has received numerous accolades, including the National Academy of Sciences Award in Molecular Biology and the Lavoisier Medal.

With over 200 peer-reviewed publications and numerous patents, Dr. Rudd is recognized globally for her contributions to molecular biology and for mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Plenary Lecture Speakers

Ryan Flynn, PhD

GlycoRNA Specialist, Harvard University

Ryan is a New Jersey native who completed his undergraduate training at MIT, where he worked in the lab of Phillip Sharp. Subsequently he moved to Stanford where he completed his M.D. and Ph.D. with Howard Chang. As a post-doc he changed fields to learn both chemistry and glycobiology with Carolyn Bertozzi at Stanford. In 2021, the Flynn Lab opened at Boston Children’s Hospital in the Stem Cell Program and the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. The Flynn Lab is currently focused on advancing methods, mechanisms, and functions surrounding the glycoRNA molecule, which operates at the interface of RNA biology and the cell surface. 

Noortje de Haan, PhD

Assistant Professor, Leiden University Medical Center

Dr. Noortje de Haan is assistant professor at the Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics (CPM) at the LUMC, leading the Tissue Glycomics group. She is passionate about the development of analytical, mass spectrometry-based techniques to study glycans and proteins in human tissues and revealing the role of glycans in human (patho)physiology. Especially the chemical complexity of glycans, and their strong implications in, amongst others, immunology, regenerative medicine, virology, and oncology, motivate her to combine glycobiology with cutting-edge mass spectrometry (MS) to identify and exploit specific roles of glycoproteins in human (patho)physiology. The core technologies used by her team are nano liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS) and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). 

During her PhD research (cum laude, 2019) in the lab of Prof. Manfred Wuhrer, Noortje worked on mass spectrometry method development and clinical glycomics with a core focus on antibody glycosylation in inflammatory diseases. She expanded her expertise in tissue glycomics during a three year postdoc in the glycobiology lab of Prof. Hans Wandall at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), here she got trained in the biochemical and genetic aspects of glycosylation and in advanced mass spectrometry for glycomics and glycoproteomics. 

Ana Magalhães, PhD

Associate Professor, University of Porto

Ana Magalhães graduated in Biochemistry (2005) and holds a PhD in Biomedicine (2011) by University of Porto. Currently, Ana is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry at ICBAS- Scholl of Medicine and Biomedical Science and an integrated Researcher at i3S – Institute for Research and Innovation in Health – U. Porto. Ana’s main research interests are focused on the mechanistic roles of proteoglycans in cancer cell-extracellular matrix dynamics and cellular communication and signaling. 

Yvette van Kooyk, PhD

Professor of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC

Prof. Yvette van Kooyk is a leading expert in the field of immunology and glycobiology. Her research focuses on the role of glycan structures in immune recognition, particularly in the context of infectious diseases and cancer. Dr. van Kooyk has made significant contributions to the understanding of how glycan-mediated interactions influence immune responses and has pioneered work in designing glycan-based immunotherapies. She is currently a professor at Amsterdam UMC, where she leads research efforts aimed at developing novel therapeutic approaches targeting immune pathways.

 

Andres Salumets, PhD

Professor of Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska Institute

Prof. Andres Salumets is a prominent figure in reproductive medicine, with a focus on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and embryology. His research investigates the factors that affect embryo quality and successful implantation, aiming to improve outcomes for patients undergoing fertility treatments. As a professor at the Karolinska Institute, Dr. Salumets leads a research team dedicated to advancing the science of reproduction and improving clinical practices in ART.

Matthew Wilson, PhD

Senior Postdoctoral Fellow in Glycobiology, KU Leuven

Matthew Wilson received his PhD at University College London in 2019 before moving for his postdoctoral training to the department of Human Genetics at KU Leuven, Belgium, where he is a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow. His major focus is the study of Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation, trying to decipher the molecular disease mechanisms, searching for novel treatment strategies, and along the way gaining new fundamental information on the pathways underlying glycosylation.  

Gunnar C. Hansson, MD, PhD

Professor of Mucin Biology, University of Gothenburg

Gunnar C. Hansson, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Medical Biochemistry at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and a globally recognized leader in mucin and mucus biology. With over 300 publications and an h-index of 79, he is among the top 1% most cited scientists in general sciences (2022–2024, Clarivate). His groundbreaking research has elucidated the structure and function of mucins in health and disease, particularly in cystic fibrosis, ulcerative colitis, and chronic lung diseases such as COPD and IPF. He has received numerous accolades, including the Axel Hirsch Prize (2018) and the Royal Swedish King Medal (2021), and is a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, where he serves in the Chemistry Class selecting Nobel Laureates in Chemistry. Dr. Hansson has led major international research initiatives funded by the NIH, ERC, and Wallenberg Foundation, and he founded the Mucin Biology Groups at the University of Gothenburg, a leading research network in mucosal immunology. His work, including the founding of companies like MucoMedics AB and MucoLife Pharmaceuticals AB, bridges fundamental glycoscience with translational applications, establishing him as a preeminent authority in the field.

Our email:

info@jennerglycobiologyconference.com

Our address:

Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Our phone number:

(+353 1) 7086477

The 16th Jenner Glycobiology and Medicine Symposium is not supported in any way by the glyconutriceutical industry nor does it endorse any such products.