Dr. Kamil Godula is a chemist working in the areas of glycomaterials and chemical glycobiology. His research focuses on developing glycan-based nanomaterials and chemical methods for engineering cell surfaces to control cellular signaling and differentiation and to study mechanisms used by pathogens to subvert the protective mucosal barrier. Dr. Godula is an NIH Director’s New Innovator, a Cottrell Scholar, and an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow. He is the Co-Director of the Glycobiology Research and Training Center at UCSD.

2023 ACS Fall POLY: CME NASA Symposium Abstract

Hidden in Plain Slime – Finding Inspiration in Mucus for Building Synthetic Biological Interfaces.

The mucosal glycocalyx is as a biological barrier that mediates cellular functions ranging from protection, to exchange of gases and nutrients, to transfer of biological information. It encodes molecular signatures of “self” recognized by the immune system and constantly evolves to prevent attack by pathogens, which exploit its components to enter cells. The glycocalyx has inspired novel nanomaterials that recapitulate its molecular complexity, nanoscale architecture, and functions for applications as protective coatings and responsive biomimetic interfaces in foreign and hostile environments.