Although genomics, proteomics and now systems biology have become hot topics in biomedical research, glycoscience has so far played a rather minor role. Yet, over 95% of all cell surface and secreted proteins carry glycans. Glycans are important regulators of protein function, exemplified by the broad defects on cellular and tissue level observed in the 128 congenital disorders of glycosylation known to date. I envision that glycan-based research has not reached its full potential and will revolutionize the oncology and immunology field. Originally trained as a biochemist and immunologist, I specialized during my PhD in the field of glycomics. My combined track record in glycobiology, immunology and oncology is unique within the worldwide scientific community. During my PhD and postdoctoral years I studied the impact of glycosylation and glycan-binding receptors on dendritic cell biology, resulting, amongst other things, in a publication in Nature Immunology and became a glycoimmunology specialist. I have identified glycan ligands and their protein carriers that interact with glycan-binding receptors of the C-type lectin family on immune cells. I was the first to describe the elaborate carbohydrate recognition profile of the C-type lectin Macrophage Galactose-type Lectin (MGL), demonstrating its unique specificity for tumor-associated glycans and its predictive value for patient survival and metastatic potential of both colorectal and cervical tumors. I obtained a prestigious VENI grant (personal grant for talented, creative researchers) that allowed me to dissect the signaling properties of glycan-binding receptors. I discovered that triggering of the C-type lectin MGL leads to repression of immunity and immune evasion in tumors, by promoting the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, the differentiation of regulatory T cells and the induction of a novel quiescent metabolic phenotype. The VENI, Dutch Cancer Society and European (ITN) grants enabled me to establish my research group aimed at unraveling how tumor glycans are regulated and how tumor glycans manipulate immune recognition. My lab established that oncogenic transformation has a direct impact on the tumor glycome. Moreover, I uncovered that sialic acid expression by tumor cells is a double edged sword. High levels of sialic acid impede anti-tumor immunity, yet complete removal of cell surface sialic acids also abrogated anti-tumor immune responses through the specific deletion of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells. In 2017, I obtained an ASPASIA scholarship from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). This personal research innovation grant for excellent female mid-career PI’s has enabled me to advance my research and to establish the VUmc Women in Science Fund, a funding agency for early female postdocs in the VUmc, which aims to accelerate the careers of young female scientists by providing grants for international work visits and setting up international networks as important steps in a scientific career.