Large glycomics datasets as a tool to understand the function of glycans.

Large-scale glycomics datasets are revolutionizing understanding of glycan functions, with recent advances enabling extensive studies to uncover biological roles.

• Why it matters: Glycomics has lagged behind other omics due to analytical difficulties, limiting insights into glycan functions and their potential as biomarkers.
• What they did: The review highlights progress in high-throughput glycoanalytical methods, emphasizing the importance of standardized, multicohort, and longitudinal studies using rigorous statistics.
• The result: These large datasets facilitate biomarker discovery and deepen insights into glycan-mediated biological processes, advancing both basic science and clinical applications.