Glycan array data management at Consortium for Functional Glycomics.

Glycomics or the study of structure-function relationships of complex glycans has reshaped post-genomics biology. Glycans mediate fundamental biological functions via their specific interactions with a variety of proteins. Recognizing the importance of glycomics, large-scale research initiatives such as the Consortium for Functional Glycomics (CFG) were established to address these challenges.

Advancing glycomics: implementation strategies at the consortium for functional glycomics.

Glycomics-an integrated approach to study structure-function relationships of complex carbohydrates (or glycans)-is an emerging field in this age of post-genomics. Realizing the importance of glycomics, many large scale research initiatives have been established to generate novel resources and technologies to advance glycomics. These initiatives are generating and cataloging diverse data sets necessitating the development of bioinformatic platforms to acquire, integrate, and disseminate these data sets in a meaningful fashion.