AS&T GlycoAnalytics

Accelerating Quality Insights for Advanced Therapeutics

The GlycoAnalytics Group develops next-generation, high-throughput solutions to deliver accelerated, detailed critical quality attribute (CQA) analysis for protein biologics, oligonucleotide therapy, cell therapy, and vaccines. We provide rapid, precise characterisation of glycans, aggregation, oligonucleotides, polysaccharides and protein topology to enhance product and process quality. Our team also builds AI, computational and mathematical models, algorithms, software, and databases for automated monitoring and understanding of CQAs and biomanufacturing process optimization.

Focus Areas

  • Advanced analytics for glycoprotein therapeutics and glycosylation in cells
  • Optimization of protein, cell, vaccine and oligonucleotide biomanufacturing using AI and modelling
  • Speed up of analytical platforms using advanced algorithms
  • Complex glycans in proteins, vaccines and food

Our Capabilities

We characterise glycosylation in protein biologics and cells, as well as other CQAs of oligonucleotides and vaccines, using a suite of advanced analytical instruments. We also bring deep expertise in computational approaches, including machine learning and AI modelling.

Advanced Spectrometry

High-end instruments such as Orbitrap Fusion, Xevo liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and Ion Mobility MS (Waters SYNAPT XS) for detailed glycosylation profiling.

Capillary Electrophoresis (CE)

Techniques such as cIEF, CZE, CE-SDS, and high-throughput workflows - supporting analysis of mRNA, glycoprotein aggregation, and other modalities.

UHPLC

Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography and ion-exchange (IEX) methods to separate and quantify protein variants, heterogeneity, aggregation, or degradation.

Machine learning and AI

By combining asset data (i.e. amino acid/oligonucleotide sequence) and critical process parameters (CPPs) we can build predictive models for process optimization, process control, and intelligent biomanufacturing.

Our Technologies

Glycan Platform

  • Glycan profiling of glycoproteins, cells, serum, or tissues
  • Complex glycan characterization of oligosaccharides, glycosphingolipids and polysaccharides
  • Glycopeptide O- and N- site characterization and quantitation
  • Unambiguous glycosidic linkage determination using Ion Mobility
  • Intact protein glycoform
  • Monosaccharide analysis - pharmaceutical and food products
  • Semi-automated analytics

Glycan Platform (resized)

Machine learning and computational models

  • ML-driven process optimisation replacing traditional DOE
  • CQA monitoring, forecasting and control
  • Prediction of glycan analytical attributes
  • Analytical databases

Machine learning and computational models (resized)

Aggregation models

  • Mechanistic insight into aggregation pathways
  • Frameworks to assess process-related stress risks
  • Use of in silico and rational mitigation strategies

Aggregation models (resized)

The Team

Ian Walsh (resized)

Dr Ian Walsh

Principal Scientist I
Group Leader

ian_walsh@a-star.edu.sg

Qiu Beiying (resized)

Dr Qiu Beiying

Senior Scientist I

qiu_beiying@a-star.edu.sg

Charmaine Chia (resized)

Dr Charmaine Chia

Senior Scientist I
(Joint Appointment with A*STAR Bioinformatics Institute)

charmaine_chia@a-star.edu.sg

Our Track Record

Featured Publications

  • Ian Walsh †, Thimo Ruethers †, Sim Lyn Chiin, Gavin Teo, Shi Jie Tay, Corrine Wan, Kuin Tian Pang, Sean Chia, Andreas L. Lopata and Beiying Qiu (2025) Differentiation of Fish Species Based on O-Acetylated N-Glycan Fragments Using LC-IM-MS to Combat Seafood Adulteration. Applied Food Research 5(2): 101428
  • Ian Walsh, Fumi Shozui, Ayaka Sato, Uiseon Park, Hyeran Cho and Charmaine Chia (2025) Toward Machine Learning-Guided CHO Bioprocess and Media Optimization for Improved Titer and Glycosylation. Biotechnology Journal 20(11): e70149
  • Fakhriedzwan Idris, Justin Seng Geap Ooi, Donald Heng Rong Ting, Eunice Tze Xin Tan, Corrine Wan, Peter I Benke, Jan Kazimierz Marzinek, Jack M Copping, Qin Hui Li, Lu Yi Ng, Sheau Yng Lim, Ian Walsh, Jane R Allison, Peter John Bond, Federico Torta, Terry Nguyen-Khuong, Kuan Rong Chan and Sylvie Alonso (2025) Glycans on non-structural protein 1 prevent premature T-cell mediated dengue virus clearance. EMBO Molecular Medicine 17(11): 2995-3020
  • Meiyappan Lakshmanan, Sean Chia, Kuin Tian Pang, Lyn Chiin Sim, Gavin Teo, Shi Ya Mak, Shuwen Chen, Hsueh Lee Lim, Alison P. Lee, Farouq Bin Mahfut, Say Kong Ng, Yuansheng Yang, Annie Soh, Andy Hee-Meng Tan, Andre Choo, Ying Swan Ho, Terry Nguyen-Khuong and Ian Walsh (2024) Antibody Glycan Quality Predicted from CHO Cell Culture Media Markers and Machine Learning. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal 23: 2497-2506
  • Hoi Kong Meng, Kuin Tian Pang, Corrine Wan, Zi Ying Zheng, Qiu Beiying, Yuansheng Yang, Wei Zhang, Ying Swan Ho, Ian Walsh and Sean Chia (2024) Thermal and pH stress dictate distinct mechanisms of monoclonal antibody aggregation. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 282: 136601
  • Corrine Wan, Shi Jie Tay, Beiying Qiu, Sean Chia and Ian Walsh (2024) Cellulose functionalized magnetic beads for high throughput glycosylation analysis in biotherapeutic modalities. Scientific Reports 14(1): 29735

† These authors contributed equally to this work.

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