Back to Sloan-Kettering Institute: Research Programs

Sloan-Kettering Institute // David Y. Gin

David Y. Gin: Projects

Synthesis of Complex Glycoconjugate Adjuvants for Anti-Cancer and Anti-Viral Vaccine Therapies

The development of therapeutic vaccines often includes the use of synthetic small molecule antigen constructs to elicit immune response.

Development of New Carbohydrate Coupling Reactions

Immunity, cell growth, cell-cell communication and inflammation are among the numerous biological processes influenced by complex carbohydrates.

Total Synthesis of Complex Bioactive Alkaloids

Complex alkaloid natural products have exhibited a wide array of biological activities including, inter alia, antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

Site-Selective Carbohydrate-Peptide Conjugation

Biological roles of proteins are often determined by their post-translational modifications, which result in the introduction of various functionalities such as carbohydrates and lipids.

alkaloid (AL-kuh-loyd)

A member of a large group of substances found in plants and in some fungi. Alkaloids contain nitrogen and can be made in the laboratory. Nicotine, caffeine, codeine, and vincristine are alkaloids. Some alkaloids, such as vincristine, are used to treat cancer.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

antibacterial (AN-tee-bak-TEER-ee-ul)

A substance that kills bacteria or stops them from growing and causing disease.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

antifungal (AN-tee-FUN-gul)

A drug that treats infections caused by fungi.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

antigen (AN-tih-jen)

Any substance that causes the body to make a specific immune response.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

antitumor (AN-tee-TOO-mer)

Having to do with stopping abnormal cell growth.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

antiviral (AN-tee-VY-rul)

A drug used to treat infections caused by viruses.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

biological (BY-oh-LAH-jih-kul)

Pertaining to biology or to life and living things. In medicine, refers to a substance made from a living organism or its products. Biologicals may be used to prevent, diagnose, treat or relieve of symptoms of a disease. For example, antibodies, interleukins, and vaccines are biologicals. Biological also refers to parents and children who are related by blood.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cell (sel)

The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

immune response (ih-MYOON reh-SPONTS)

The activity of the immune system against foreign substances (antigens).

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

immunity (ih-MYOO-nih-tee)

The condition of being protected against an infectious disease. Immunity can be caused by a vaccine, previous infection with the same agent, or by transfer of immune substances from another person or animal.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

inflammation (IN-fluh-MAY-shun)

Redness, swelling, pain, and/or a feeling of heat in an area of the body. This is a protective reaction to injury, disease, or irritation of the tissues.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

molecule (MAH-leh-kyool)

The smallest particle of a substance that has all of the physical and chemical properties of that substance. Molecules are made up of one or more atoms. If they contain more than one atom, the atoms can be the same (an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms) or different (a water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). Biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, can be made up of many thousands of atoms.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

synthetic (sin-THEH-tik)

Having to do with substances that are man-made instead of taken from nature.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

therapeutic (THAYR-uh-PYOO-tik)

Having to do with treating disease and helping healing take place.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)