Understanding how chemotherapy affects taste nerve recovery
Official title: Investigating alterations in gustatory neuron innervation and function over the course of chemotherapy treatment
Funded at University of Texas San Antonio · NIH-11010352 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how chemotherapy affects the recovery of taste nerves in cancer patients, helping us understand why some people have ongoing taste changes after treatment with a common drug called cyclophosphamide.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas San Antonio NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $41,158 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DC021875-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11010352 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults undergoing chemotherapy treatment, particularly those experiencing taste alterations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy or those without taste alterations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how chemotherapy impacts the recovery of taste nerves in patients. It focuses on the changes in gustatory fiber innervation and taste signaling after treatment with cyclophosphamide, a common chemotherapy drug. By using advanced imaging techniques and nerve recordings, the study aims to track the timeline of nerve recovery and how it affects taste perception. The findings could provide insights into the prolonged taste disruptions experienced by cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved management of taste alterations in chemotherapy patients, enhancing their quality of life during recovery.
How similar studies have gone: While some research has explored taste alterations in chemotherapy, this specific investigation into gustatory fiber recovery is novel and has not been extensively studied.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas San Antonio
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wood, Ryan — University of Texas San Antonio
- Study coordinator: Wood, Ryan
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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.