The main objective of GLYCOVAX is to train young scientists to use and combine the different state-of-the-art methodologies for the rational design of glycoconjugates that can improve current vaccines and/or tackle unmet medical needs. To accomplish its mission, GLYCOVAX’s research plan is organized in 4 well-interconnected research workpackages (WP 1-4), supported by 4 additional workpackages including coordination and management (WP5), recruitment (WP6), training (WP7) and dissemination and public engagement (WP8) activities. These interconnected objectives will allow the selection of rationally designed vaccine candidates. The GLYCOVAX approach will be applied to epidemiologically relevant disease areas: meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae), neonatal infections (Group B streptococci), and nosocomial infections (Enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus).

GLYCOVAX will involve 14 PhD projects well integrated in the four research work packages and interconnected among them.

Meningitis	Neonatal infections	Neonatal infections
WP1: Carbohydrate synthesis WP1: Carbohydrate synthesis Carbohydrate synthesis: Development of novel synthetic methods (automated synthesis, flow chemistry, chemoenzymatic synthesis and other synthetic approaches) enabling fast assembly of complex bacterial polysaccharide structures for structural studies or testing in animal models. ESR 3, 15 ESRs 1, 2, 5, 7 ,8 ESRs 4
WP2: Study of carbohydrate-protein interactions WP2: Study of carbohydrate-protein interactions Study of carbohydrate-protein interactions: Developing and/or applying diverse chemico-physical techniques (X-ray crystallography, NMR, glycoarray, SPR, ITC, competitive ELISA, computational chemistry) for the study of the interactions between the oligosaccharide antigens with mAbs correlated with protection in animal models. ESRs 9, 11, 12 ESRs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ESRs 4
WP3: Novel glycoconjugation methods WP3: Novel glycoconjugation methods Novel glycoconjugation methods: Development of novel site selective conjugation methods and application to the preparation of conjugates with defined glycans at predetermined sites. ESR 13, 15 ESRs 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 13 ESRs 4, 14
WP4: Study of immunogenicity-structure relationship WP4: Study of immunogenicity-structure relationship Study of immunogenicity-structure relationship: Selection of vaccine candidates and in vivo testing to determine the immunogenicity-structure relationship and to ascertain the capability to confer protection from bacterial infections in animal models. ESRs 3, 10, 15 ESRs 9, 10 ESRs 4, 10, 14