All human cells are covered with carbohydrate molecules and these structures form a type of 'chemical language' through which cells communicate with each other. It is now apparent that the structures of cell surface glycans are highly dynamic and are often indicative of disease states. For example, carbohydrates on tumor cells are different from those on normal cells, and alterations in sugar molecules are associated with inflammatory disease as well. My laboratory utilizes knowledge of carbohydrate structure and metabolism to devise new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. We are designing small molecule inhibitors of carbohydrate processing enzymescentral to the inflammatory response, and targeting tumor cells on the basis of aberrant carbohydrate metabolism.