Improving how human smell receptors are produced for lab tests
Enhancing olfactory receptor expression for biochemical studies of odorant-receptor interactions
['FUNDING_R01'] · DUKE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11286624
This project aims to make human smell receptors easier to produce in the lab so researchers can find molecules that turn them on or off, which could help people with conditions linked to these receptors.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DUKE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DURHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11286624 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You should know this is lab-focused work to make six human olfactory receptors express at higher levels so they can be studied outside the body. The team will use computer-based predictions of helpful amino acid changes, create those mutant receptors, and test them in cells and purification systems. They will also look for small molecules that bind, activate, or block these receptors to build tools for future research. The goal is to enable structural and biochemical studies that can connect receptor behavior to roles in the nose and in other tissues such as kidney, skin, prostate, and some cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: There is no direct patient enrollment now, but future studies could include people with conditions linked to olfactory receptor activity, such as certain kidney, skin, prostate disorders, or cancers.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatments or those with conditions unrelated to olfactory receptor biology are unlikely to benefit in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed discovery of drugs, diagnostics, or lab tools targeting olfactory receptors involved in smell and in diseases of the kidney, skin, prostate, and some cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Recent work by these investigators has already improved expression and purification of some olfactory receptors, so this project builds on promising early successes.
Where this research is happening
DURHAM, UNITED STATES
- DUKE UNIVERSITY — DURHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MATSUNAMI, HIROAKI — DUKE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MATSUNAMI, HIROAKI
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.