Exploring new ways our bodies and insects detect taste
Official title: Opsins as a new class of evolutionarily conserved taste receptors
Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-11094682 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether certain proteins, called opsins, help us and other animals, like mosquitoes, sense different tastes beyond just light.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Barbara NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $516,523 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC016278-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094682 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future studies building on this work might seek individuals with taste-related conditions or those interested in mosquito-borne disease prevention.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention for taste disorders or mosquito-borne diseases would not directly benefit from this early-stage basic science research.
What this research studies
This research explores a fascinating discovery: proteins called opsins, long known for detecting light, also play a role in sensing taste. We are looking into whether these opsins help detect a wider range of tastes, not just bitter ones, and if they are important for taste in other animals. Specifically, we are studying mosquitoes, which spread serious diseases, to understand how they use taste to find food and avoid harmful substances. We also want to see if opsins are involved in taste sensation in mammals, including humans. This work uses advanced techniques to observe how cells respond to tastes and how animals behave.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to control disease-carrying mosquitoes by disrupting their taste, and potentially offer new insights into human taste disorders.
How similar studies have gone: The initial discovery of opsins detecting bitter tastes in fruit flies has shown success, and this project builds upon that novel finding to explore broader implications.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Montell, Craig — University of California Santa Barbara
- Study coordinator: Montell, Craig
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how PLP enzymes work and how to harness them
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara are studying PLP-dependent enzymes to better understand their chemistry and how they can be used to make useful, complex molecules for medicines.
-
Real-time molecular monitoring in the body with advanced sensors
Aiming to measure drug and biomarker levels continuously inside the body using innovative sensors to support personalized, precise treatment.
-
Molecular genetics of how Aedes mosquitoes taste and decide to bite
Scientists are studying how the taste sense in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes works to help create better repellents that prevent bites.
-
Enabling Imaging and Alpha Therapy with New Chelators for Cancer
A cancer-focused project aims to create new chelators that let alpha-emitter radiopharmaceuticals both image and treat tumors more effectively.
-
Personalized AI for Diverse Wearable Health Data
Aging and diverse women’s health data from wearables will be used to create smarter, more accurate health insights through an AI system.
-
CAR-M immunotherapy for cancer and beyond
A cancer-fighting therapy using specially engineered macrophages (CAR-M) is being explored to work where current treatments struggle, with the aim of helping patients with various cancers and related conditions.
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.