Although when we talk about carbohydrates we are very aware of their nutritional function, sugars also fulfill other very important roles. In particular, cells are coated with carbohydrate-containing molecules that can mediate many cellular and immune processes. There are also serum proteins, such as immunoglobulins, that are decorated with carbohydrates (also called glycans) and whose structure is highly relevant to their function. In the laboratory, we study the structure of these glycans (an area of research called Glycomics), and how their alteration can influence the development of pathologies such as inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) and colorectal cancer.