Professor Merzaban's research is driven by a profound mission: to transform foundational glycobiology into impactful tools for real-world diagnosis and intervention. Her laboratory passionately investigates how glycosylation, the intricate language of sugars on cell surfaces, profoundly shapes the behavior of cancer and stem cells, with a particular focus on hematopoietic cells and leukemias. 

Her team has achieved significant breakthroughs including, identifying glycosyltransferase-based gene signatures that precisely classify tumors, predict subtypes, and guide prognosis, laying a robust foundation for RT-PCR-based diagnostic tools currently under development. In parallel, Professor Merzaban’s group is advancing translational research by engineering of novel small molecules designed to target glycan-mediated adhesion, such as E-selectin ligands and specific glycosyltransferases such as fucosyltransferases (i.e., FUT6), aiming to effectively block metastasis and sensitize leukemic cells to treatment. Complementing these efforts, her research also delves into how the activation of the surface receptor CD44 leads to metabolic reprogramming and differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia, uncovering crucial links between succinate metabolism and epigenetic shifts. Most recently, her lab has launched groundbreaking work into glycoRNAs, a new and exciting layer of RNA modification that holds immense potential for regulating communication between cancer cells and their environment.Across all these integrated projects, Professor Merzaban's ultimate goal is to translate complex biological insights into innovative strategies that directly address critical challenges in human health and disease.