How the sense of smell affects brain function and schizophrenia
Impact of the olfactory system on higher brain function and schizophrenia
This project connects changes in the nose's smell tissue to thinking, social skills, and symptoms in people with schizophrenia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258857 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers may check your sense of smell and take small samples from the lining of the nose (the olfactory epithelium). They will link those nasal findings to brain measures, behavioral tests, and clinical symptoms, and compare them with lab mice where nose inflammation is switched on. The team will track molecular signs of immune and redox imbalance in human nasal tissue over time. The goal is to understand whether nose tissue changes help explain smell loss, poor social functioning, or negative symptoms so new tests or treatments could be developed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with schizophrenia—especially adolescents and young adults who have smell loss or prominent negative/social symptoms—would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without schizophrenia or without smell-related problems are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to detect or treat some symptoms of schizophrenia by targeting smell-related inflammation or using nasal biomarkers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have repeatedly found smell deficits and molecular changes in nasal tissue in schizophrenia and animal models support a causal link, but translating these findings into clinical tests or treatments is still new.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sawa, Akira — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Sawa, Akira
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.