Exploring the structure and connections of taste buds in mice
Official title: Uncovering the ultrastructure and connectivity of murine fungiform taste buds
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11059853 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how taste buds in mice work and connect to nerves to help them taste different flavors like sweet, bitter, and salty, so we can better understand how our sense of taste functions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $195,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DC021252-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11059853 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would include individuals with taste perception issues or those interested in the biological mechanisms of taste.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any taste perception issues or those not interested in gustatory system research may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the ultrastructure and connectivity of taste buds in mice, focusing on how these sensory organs detect different tastes such as sweet, bitter, and salty. The study aims to analyze the cellular composition and morphology of fungiform taste buds located on the anterior tongue, which are less understood compared to circumvallate taste buds. By utilizing advanced imaging techniques, researchers will map the connections between taste cells and the nerves that innervate them, providing insights into the gustatory system's functioning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of taste perception and potentially lead to new treatments for taste disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on circumvallate taste buds, this specific investigation into the fungiform taste buds is relatively novel and less explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilson, Courtney Elizabeth — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Wilson, Courtney Elizabeth
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.