Understanding how we taste starch-derived sugars in the mouth
Official title: Decoding the molecular and sensory basis of maltooligosaccharide sensing
Funded at Monell Chemical Senses Center · NIH-11440543 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant seeks to uncover the receptor that lets people sense maltooligosaccharides (MOS), helping us understand a new way the body detects carbohydrates.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Monell Chemical Senses Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $262,200 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC023974-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11440543 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who can participate in taste testing and contribute saliva or other non-invasive samples.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not participate in taste testing or do not have the relevant sensory background may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Monell will study how MOS are detected in the mouth beyond the known sweet receptor. They will test taste responses in humans by blocking certain taste pathways and comparing MOS to other tastants. In parallel, they will use cell-based tests to identify the specific MOS receptor among candidate GPCRs. The work combines pharmacology, human taste testing, and molecular screening to pinpoint the MOS sensing mechanism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal a new target for understanding and potentially modulating carbohydrate taste.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest MOS can be detected through a non-traditional taste pathway, with broader evidence from cell-based models.
Where this research is happening
-
Monell Chemical Senses Center
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lim, Juyun — Monell Chemical Senses Center
- Study coordinator: Lim, Juyun
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.