Carbohydrates are evolutionarily preserved features that coat every cell on the planet. They often act as cellular identifiers and can modulate various functions in physiological and pathological cell states. In contrast with proteins, glycans are not genetically encoded, and due to the abundant presence of homogeneous hydroxyl functional groups, selective functionalization, and targeting are extremely challenging to achieve. 

A comprehensive understanding of the roles that carbohydrates play in health and disease requires interdisciplinary tools and methods. These range from synthetic chemistry to achieve and characterize structurally defined molecules, in vivo assessment of carbohydrate antigens, transcriptomic analysis of host cells after pathogen encounters, and imaging techniques to explore glycan structure and localization. 

The interdisciplinary nature of this research field is part of its intrinsic beauty. However, it also poses many challenges, as key methods to obtain, characterize, and assess their biological function require creative solutions beyond a single disciplinary background.

This Methods Collection invites researchers with unshakable know-how in any relevant field to disclose the role of glycans in health and disease by sharing their method-focused contributions. Visual aids of these key methodologies will help the scientific community progress faster toward disclosing the holistic role of glycans without roadblocks.