Understanding how smell influences behavior using tiny worms
Official title: Olfactory Combinatorial Coding in C. elegans
Funded at University of Toledo · NIH-11125001 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the sense of smell influences behavior and body responses using tiny worms, and it aims to help us understand how smell might affect things like appetite in humans too.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Toledo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toledo, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $559,782 |
| NIH project number | 1R15DC022738-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11125001 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research would be individuals interested in the mechanisms of smell and its impact on behavior, particularly those with appetite-related issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to olfactory processing or appetite may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the sense of smell affects behavior and physiological responses, using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, a type of tiny worm. The study aims to decode how olfactory information is processed by examining the responses of specific neurons to various odors. By simplifying the complex mechanisms of olfactory processing, the research seeks to uncover fundamental principles that could apply to more complex organisms, including humans. This approach allows for a clearer understanding of how smell can influence appetite and other behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into how olfactory processing affects appetite and behavior, potentially informing treatments for related disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach using C. elegans is relatively novel, similar studies in olfactory processing have shown promising results in other model organisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Toledo
Toledo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bamber, Bruce a — University of Toledo
- Study coordinator: Bamber, Bruce a
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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.