Title: Glycosylation in the Mucosal Epithelium: From Immune Modulation to Oral Cancer

By Kevin Chandler, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Translational Glycobiology Institute

Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Abstract

The mucosal epithelium lines the digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems, and occupies an area ~200 times greater than the skin, making it the body’s largest protective barrier. We aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of mucosal immunity/tolerance by glycosylation pathway enzymes, with a focus on the role of fucosyltransferases (FUTs), a family of enzymes responsible for catalyzing the linkage-specific transfer of fucose to glycoproteins and glycolipids. Individuals with FUT-inactivating polymorphisms exhibit unique patterns of susceptibility and resistance to viral infections, have distinct microbiomes, experience higher incidence of mucosal malignancies, and have higher rates of inflammatory diseases including Crohn’s, celiac, and inflammatory bowel disease, compared to those with wild type FUTs. However, there is a significant gap in knowledge regarding the molecular function and regulation of FUTs within mucosal epithelia. Through a multidisciplinary research program that leverages strengths in biochemistry, functional glycoproteomics, and cell biology, my laboratory aims to understand: (1) how FUTs regulate mucosal immunity and tolerance, (2) what role glycan-binding proteins on immune cells play in regulating resident and non-resident immune cell populations, and (3) how the dysregulation of FUTs and FUT-interacting genes contributes to mucosal malignancies including oral cancer. Here, I will discuss our relevant work on oral cancer, as well as recent evidence related to the inflammation-dependent and -independent roles of FUTs in mucosal pathobiology. With this knowledge, we aim to develop new glycosylation-centered strategies to detect and treat human diseases arising from dysregulated mucosal signaling, immunity, and tolerance.

Short Bio

Dr. Kevin Chandler is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at the Translational Glycobiology Institute, within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He has a background in biochemistry and analytical chemistry, with a focus on mass spectrometry-based analyses of glycoproteins as applied to mucosal biology and cancer. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Georgetown University, where he investigated glycoprotein biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma using mass spectrometry and novel computational methods, supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. In 2014, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Catherine Costello at Boston University as a postdoctoral fellow, where he received training in glycoprotein mass spectrometry and was awarded an NIH National Research Service Award for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32) to study the role of N-glycosylation in the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) signaling. In 2020, he joined the Harvard K12 Career Development Program in Translational Glycobiology Scholar under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Sackstein, with a focus on the role of fucosyltransferase expression and function in oral squamous cell carcinoma. In 2023, Dr. Chandler started his independent laboratory in the Translational Glycobiology Institute at Florida International University. He has received the American Head and Neck Society Presidential Award (2023) and was named a Rising Star in Proteomics & Metabolomics (2024) by the editors of the Journal of Proteome Research.

The Seminar will take place in person on Friday, January 23rd, 2026,  from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in WC 130, MMC Campus.

Light refreshments and snacks will be provided from 11:30 AM to noon, followed by the Seminar at 12:00 PM. 

Students, please bring your OneCard.