Better ways to treat blocked noses and loss of smell
Official title: Novel mechanisms and therapeutic approaches for nasal obstruction and olfactory losses
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11144310 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Developing new tests and treatments for adults with chronic nasal blockage and smell loss by studying how airflow and nasal sensing work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 26, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $393,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020302-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11144310 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and over with chronic nasal or sinus disease who report persistent nasal obstruction or recent smell loss are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose smell loss is due to irreversible nerve damage (for example advanced neurodegenerative disease), those under 21, or those with obstruction caused solely by large structural lesions needing surgery may not benefit from sensing-focused approaches.
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will measure how air moves through my nose and how my nasal nerves sense that airflow, focusing on a pathway called TRPM8. They will use objective airflow measurements and sensory testing alongside my reported symptoms to pinpoint why I feel blocked or have reduced smell. The team aims to build and test clinical tools that can detect conductive causes of smell loss that current methods miss. Findings may guide new non-surgical treatments that target nasal sensory function as well as better ways to decide when surgery or other therapies are needed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could produce objective tests and new treatments that reduce breathing-related blockage and help restore smell in people with chronic sinus disease.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies suggest trigeminal airflow-sensing (TRPM8) contributes to the sensation of blockage, but clinical tools and treatments targeting this mechanism are mostly new and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Kai — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Kai
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding and treating nasal obstruction and loss of smell
This study is looking into why many adults in the U.S. have trouble breathing through their nose and losing their sense of smell, and it aims to find better ways to treat these issues by understanding how airflow and senses work in the nose.
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Pharyngeal Mucosal Conditioning to Prevent Postoperative Sore Throat in Septoplasty Patients with Severe Nasal Obstruction
This trial tests whether preoperative nebulized saline and a lubricating gel on the breathing tube can lower sore throat after septoplasty in patients with severe nasal blockage.
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Fixed-dose combo pill for cold and flu symptoms in adults
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-
Patient-reported outcomes and complications after structural rhinoplasty with septal extension grafts
This project will track adults having their first structural rhinoplasty with a septal extension graft to see how their symptoms, satisfaction, and any complications change over the first six months after surgery.
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Using active anterior rhinomanometry to guide when surgery is needed for nasal obstruction.
This test will try whether preoperative rhinomanometry can help decide if adults with nasal obstruction should have septoplasty, turbinate reduction, or rhinoplasty.
-
Combination treatment for chronic nasal obstruction
This study is testing if a combination of a nasal spray and steroids can help people with chronic nasal obstruction who haven't found relief with regular treatments.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.