Prof. Zhongwu Guo

Professor and Scott Chair

Organic Division

Office:
Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) Building, Room 302D

Phone: 352-392-9133
Email: zguo@chem.ufl.edu

Address:

University of Florida
Department of Chemistry
PO Box 117200
Gainesville FL 32611

Biography:

Research in the Guo laboratory is at the interface of chemistry, chemical biology, and biomedical sciences. Its research projects range from the development of novel synthetic methodologies for complex carbohydrates, glycolipids and other glycoconjugates to their biological and medical applications. The methodologies include both chemical and chemoenzymatic syntheses, and the synthetic targets range from biologically important complex oligosaccharides to natural and functionalized glycoconjugates, such as glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs), glycosphingolipids (GSLs), and glycoproteins. The synthesized molecules are employed to study and gain insights into the structures, functions, and action mechanisms of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates in various physiological and pathological processes, such as the interactions of GPIs and GSLs with the cell membrane and the functional roles of GPIs and GSLs in human diseases. New mass spectrometry-based methods are developed to explore GSL-omics of the central nerve system and its relationship with human diseases. Glycoconjugates are also explored for the development of new cancer immunotherapies, including therapeutic cancer vaccines.

Education:

  • 1994 P.D.F.    Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
  • 1991 Ph.D.     Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland (organic chemistry)
  • 1987 M.S.      The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China (medicinal chemistry)
  • 1984 Pharm.D. The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China (pharmacy)

Other Activities:

  • Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Carbohydrate Chemistry
  • Co-Vice Chair and Chair-Elect for 2017 and 2019 Carbohydrate Gordon Research Conferences
  • Outstanding Alumnus Award, The Second Military Medical University (China)
  • Mizutani Glycoscience Award (Japan)
  • New Investigator Award of Carbohydrates, American Chemical Society (USA)
  • Research Innovation Award, Research Corporation (USA)
  • RIKEN Fellowship (Japan)
  • Research Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany)