Karthika Korumadathil Shaji

PhD Candidate | SUGAR Lab

Biography

Karthika Korumadathil Shaji is a PhD researcher in the SUGAR Lab at the University of Groningen, since 2023, specializing in the development of high-sensitivity analytical methodologies for glycomics. Her research focuses on advancing capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS) for the characterization of complex glycan structures from extremely limited biological material. A particular emphasis is placed on the development of robust strategies for N- and O-glycan analysis, including improved glycan release, sample preparation, chemical labelling, and electrophoretic separation.

One of the central challenges addressed in her work is the characterization of glycans from small, spatially defined tissue regions, where conventional analytical techniques are often limited by sample requirements and insufficient sensitivity. By combining CE-MS method development with laser microdissection (LMD), Karthika aims to enable detailed glycan profiling of specific tissue regions and cellular populations. Her research is particularly directed towards investigating glycosylation alterations associated with head and neck cancers. Ultimately, her work seeks to bridge the gap between analytical method development and biologically relevant applications, bringing high-resolution glycomics closer to individual cells and spatially resolved tissue analysis.

Research interests:

Capillary Electrophoresis–Mass Spectrometry (CE-MS) · Ultra-low-input Glycomics · O-Glycomics · Laser Microdissection · Glycan Labelling Strategies

Current Research

    • 2026 | CE Forum, Liège, Belgium | Oral Conference Presentation

      From Method Development to Tissue Application: Ultra-low-input CE-MS-based N- and O-Glycan Profiling of Bulk and Spatial Head and Neck Cancer Tissues.

    • 2026 | International Mass Spectrometry Conference (IMSC), Lyon, France | Poster Presentation

      From Method Development to Tissue Application: Ultra-low-input CE-MS-based N- and O-glycan Profiling of Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma.

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Affiliations:

  • University of Groningen, SUGAR Lab, Analytical Biochemistry

Research period at the SUGAR Lab:

2023 - present

Supervision & Collaboration:

Developing Ultra-sensitive CE-MS Workflows for N- and O-Glycomics

Glycosylation is one of the most complex and structurally diverse post-translational modifications. The characterization of glycans is particularly challenging when only small amounts of biological material are available, or when structural features such as branching, linkage position, and isomerism need to be distinguished. Karthika's research focuses on overcoming these limitations through the development and optimization of CE-MS workflows.

Her main research activities include:

  1. 1. Ultra-low-input CE-MS glycomics

    1. Developing sensitive analytical workflows for the detection and characterization of released glycans from increasingly limited sample quantities, with the long-term objective of enabling glycomics at the single-cell level.

  2. 2. Development of O-glycomics strategies

    1. Investigating suitable approaches for releasing, preparing and analyzing O-linked glycans using CE-MS. A central challenge is establishing workflows that provide sufficient recovery, sensitivity and structural information while remaining compatible with very small samples.

  3. 3. Glycan labelling and derivatization

    1. Evaluating chemical labelling strategies to improve glycan detection, separation efficiency, migration behaviour and structural characterization. Particular attention is given to reducing-end derivatization and its compatibility with CE-MS workflows.

  4. 4. Spatial glycomics using laser microdissection

    1. Combining laser microdissection (LMD) with CE-MS to study glycosylation in selected tissue regions, thereby moving beyond conventional bulk tissue analysis towards spatially defined molecular information.

  5. 5. Applications in cancer research

    1. Applying the developed methods to investigate N- and O-glycan profiles in head and neck cancer tissues, including sinonasal mucosal melanoma, with the aim of exploring disease-associated glycosylation heterogeneity.

Scientific Relevance

By improving analytical sensitivity and extending the applicability of CE-MS to multiple glycan classes, Karthika's research aims to make detailed glycomics accessible for biological samples that are currently difficult to investigate. These developments may provide new opportunities to study glycosylation heterogeneity across cells and tissue regions and help connect molecular glycan signatures with disease-related biological processes.

University of Groningen

Funding

Veni 2023

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