| Citation | Distinguished for her contributions to carbohydrate biochemistry and chemistry, in particular in the field of structure elucidation by mass spectrometric methods. The candidate has pioneered the development of combined microchemical/mass spectrometric procedures for the identification of novel structures of biological and physiological importance, including work on mycobacterial polysaccharides, hormone-like carbohydrates in plants (the oligosaccharins) and seminal research delineating the complex lactosaminoglycan structures on human erythroid and myeloid cells. A particular highlight of the latter work was the identification of sialyl Lewisx, the first selectin ligand, as an important glycan epitope on neutrophils. More recently, in collaboration with Howard Morris, the candidate has discovered the first example of gender-specific glycosylation of proteins in her structural studies on human endometrial and seminal fluid derived glycodelins, and has made major contributions to the structural glycobiology of parasite-host interactions. In August 2000, Professor Dell was honoured by the International Carbohydrate Organisation as the recipient of the prestigious Whistler Award for her distinguished contributions to carbohydrate research. |