Helping the Sense of Smell Recover After Injury or Illness
Improving olfactory neuroplasticity through FAK/CNTF signaling
This project looks for new ways to help people regain their sense of smell when it's lost due to injury, infection, or aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | East Tennessee State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Johnson City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093436 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people lose their sense of smell after an injury, an infection like COVID-19, or simply as they get older, and currently there are no treatments to help them. Our sense of smell relies on special nerve cells that continuously replace themselves and connect to the brain. This work explores how certain natural signals, specifically FAK and CNTF, control the growth and replacement of these smell-sensing nerve cells. By understanding and potentially adjusting these signals, we hope to find new ways to encourage the nose to heal and restore the sense of smell.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is for anyone experiencing a loss of smell due to injury, infection, or aging, as it aims to develop future therapies.
Not a fit: Patients whose loss of smell is due to causes other than nerve cell damage or regeneration issues may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the first effective treatments for people who have lost their sense of smell.
How similar studies have performed: Currently, there are no established treatments for restoring the sense of smell, making this a novel and much-needed area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Johnson City, United States
- East Tennessee State University — Johnson City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jia, Cuihong — East Tennessee State University
- Study coordinator: Jia, Cuihong
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 below.