How taste nerve cells are shaped and how they help you taste
Regulation of taste neuron morphology and function
This project looks at how the nerve cells that carry taste signals are shaped and connected, to better understand how taste works in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285320 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use high-resolution imaging such as two-photon microscopy to visualize how taste nerve fibers branch and connect with taste receptor cells. They will map different nerve shapes, track changes over time, and relate branching patterns to how signals are carried to the brain. The team will test molecular cues like BDNF that may control nerve growth and branching. Findings will be used to link nerve structure with taste function and plasticity.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults experiencing changes or loss in taste, or adults willing to donate tissue or participate in related imaging or observational work, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People whose taste problems come from strictly central brain damage or from causes unrelated to peripheral taste nerves may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat taste loss and to restore normal taste after injury or aging.
How similar studies have performed: Previous anatomical and imaging studies have mapped taste connections and identified guidance factors like BDNF, but translating those basic findings into patient treatments remains limited and is still developing.
Where this research is happening
Louisville, United States
- University of Louisville — Louisville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krimm, Robin Frances — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Krimm, Robin Frances
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.