Zhongwu Guo
Professor & Scott Chair
Research Focus
Our research focus is at the interfaces of organic synthesis, carbohydrate chemistry, glycobiology, glycoimmunology, and drug discovery. Our major research interests are centered on the development of new synthetic methodologies for carbohydrates, glycopeptides and glycolipids, chemical and chemoenzymatic synthesis of natural and unnatural glycans and glycoconjugates, their applications to biology and medicine, investigation of molecules on the cell surface for the discovery of new molecular markers, and development of novel therapeutics for cancer and other diseases.
Education and Training
1989–1991: Ph.D., Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland (lab of A. Zamojski)
1980–1984: B.S., Pharmacy, The Second Military Medical University, China
Selected Awards
Melville L. Wolfrom Award, American Chemical Society (2022)
Innovation of the Year Award, University of Florida (2019)
Glycoscience Award (2008)
David Gin New Investigator Award, American Chemical Society (2005)
Research Innovation Award, Research Corporation (2000)
Selected Activities
2011–present: Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Carbohydrate Chemistry
2019: Chair, Carbohydrate Gordon Research Conferences
2019–2022: Member-at-large, ACS Carbohydrate Division, ACS
2018–2022: Standing Member, SBCA study section, NIH
2010–2014: Member, Award Committee, Carbohydrate Division, ACS
Selected Publications
S. Kundu, J. Guo, S. M. Islam, R. Rohokale, M. Jaiswal, and Z. Guo, A New Strategy to Functionalize Exosomes via Enzymatic Engineering of Surface Glycans and Its Application to Profiling Exosome Glycans and Endocytosis, Adv. Sci., 2025, 12, 2415942.
J. Guo, R. Rohokale, S. Kundu, and Z. Guo, Monophosphoryl Lipid A–2,4-Dinitrophenylamine Conjugates Are Potent Adjuvants for Carbohydrate and Protein Vaccines, JACS Au, 2025, 5, 2210–2222.
Z. Guo and S. Kundu, Recent Research Progress in Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Protein Biosynthesis, Chemical/ Chemoenzymatic Synthesis, and Interaction with the Cell Membrane, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2024, 78, 102421.