January 11, 2023
Katelyn Arnold, a research assistant professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, was recently included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Science List for 2023.
She is being recognized due to her work in glycoscience, a field of scientific study that looks at how glycans, a chain-like polymer made by all living organisms, can be used to solve problems in the field of medicine.
Arnold, who has been working in glycoscience her entire scientific career, believes there is ample opportunity for groundbreaking discovery in this field. Out of the four major classes of macromolecules – proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates/glycans – glycans are the most under-researched. For Arnold, glycoscience represents an exciting opportunity to study a drug class that researchers have only just scratched the surface of.
Arnold’s research primarily looks at how glycan structures can be used to create a new type of anti-inflammatory drug. With assistance from members of UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Professor Jian Liu’s lab, Glycan Therapeutics and other collaborators, Arnold has made excellent progress towards understanding the anti-inflammatory properties of synthetic glycans in several different models of disease. With this knowledge, she will use platform synthesis technology to build glycan structures that will form the basis of treatments for acute inflammation and infectious diseases.
“I am honored to be included in the 2023 Forbes 30 under 30 Science list for my work in glycoscience.” said Arnold. “Going forward, it is my intention to deliver the first synthetic, anti-inflammatory glycan therapeutic to be used clinically. I hope that the exposure from the Forbes list gives readers a small insight into our goal of translating our research into a product to help improve patient’s lives.”
Latest News
Researchers Engineer Yeast to Deliver Drugs, Reduce Inflammation for Possible Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment
Pharm.D. student completes rotation at the CDC
