Glycan biosynthesis of cancer cells
During his PhD at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Büll developed chemically-modified sialic acid sugars targeting glycan biosynthesis in cancer cells. With a Marie-Curie fellowship, he continued his work as postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen where he developed cell-based glycan arrays using CRISPR-engineered cells to identify a glycan ligand for an Alzheimer’s-related brain receptor. Moreover, he synthesized human mucins with complex glycosylation, which helps the understanding how microbial proteases degrade mucins. "This prize is a great honor to receive the 2024 NVBMB prize and I am thankful for the great opportunity to organize the NVBMB fall symposium on my favorite molecules", Büll says.
Biomolecular Chemistry
In 2022, Büll started his own research group at the Biomolecular Chemistry department, focusing on unraveling the mechanisms of cellular glycosylation and biological interactions with glycans. Büll currently studies the complex biosynthesis of glycans in the intestine and aims to apply this knowledge to genetically reprogram human cells to produce glycoproteins with custom glycan structures. These kind of molecules can be applied to modulate the intestinal immune system and the intestinal microbiome. As a co-founder of GlycoTherapeutics, a spin-off from Radboud University, they are dedicated to advancing the field of drug development. Their startup is committed to overcoming the efficacy limitations of current cancer immunotherapies.
The department of Biomolecular Chemistry focuses on understanding autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome, emphasizing the role of B cells and the impact of post-translational modifications such as glycosylation on immunological self-tolerance. The research group is part of IMM. “Dr. Büll’s is a highly creative researcher who has built visibility as expert in the glycan community. We highly value dr. Büll’s eye for application of his fundamental research findings, for instance as co-founder of GlycoTherapeutics BV”, the NVBMB jury says.
NVBMB prize
Established in 1927, the Netherlands Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NVBMB) is a key organization for those in the biochemistry and molecular biology fields, boasting around 1200 members from academia, research institutes, and industry. NVBMB aims to promote excellence in these fields, fostering collaboration, and serving as a knowledge-sharing platform. The NVBMB takes part in the Royal Netherlands Chemical Society (KNCV). Since 1981, the NVBMB prize has been awarded to acknowledge the exceptional contributions of a young, independent biochemist or molecular biologist based in the Netherlands. The award includes a money prize of 2,000 Euro and additional funding to host a one-day scientific symposium in the field of (bio)chemistry.
