European Science Foundation seeks stronger role for sugar medicine research

The European Science Foundation (ESF) is seeking to create a European organisation promoting the use of sugars to create medicines.

ESF experts have agreed to expand the UK-based Glycoscience Forum into a continent-wide body. Tony Merry, of Manchester University, said in a European Commission briefing note: "We decided that we need to all speak with one voice through a single organisation in Europe."

The Commission paper stressed complex sugars are involved each time cells, and sub-cell structures, communicate or bind together. As a result, "they play a major role in processes such as immune recognition and functions in the brain, such as memory".

The ESF wants more research into the "role that glycoscience can play in medicine", requesting studies into how it could fight infection and disease.