Jaclyn studies the glycosylation of the human retina. She completed her PhD in the agricultural sector investigating the glycans (complex carbohydrates) of economically significant parasites. While the limited knowledge about parasite glycans is somewhat understandable, she was shocked to find that so little was known about the glycans of the human retina! Glycans and in particular sialic acid the monosaccharide which commonly terminates mammalian glycans, aids in enabling our immune system to distinguish between healthy or damaged tissue and surveillance of pathogens. She is now investigating if changes in glycosylation are associated with Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD).