Understanding persistent smell and taste loss after COVID-19
Official title: Immune dysregulation mechanisms of persistent post-COVID19 olfactory dysfunction
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11128832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to understand why some people continue to lose their sense of smell and taste long after recovering from COVID-19.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $634,157 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021425-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future related studies would be individuals who have experienced persistent loss of smell and taste for many months after a COVID-19 infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose smell and taste returned quickly after COVID-19, or those with other causes of smell loss, may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people experience a sudden loss of smell and taste with COVID-19, and for some, these problems can last for over a year. Current anti-inflammatory treatments haven't been effective for this long-lasting issue. This project will look closely at the immune cells and signals in the nose to figure out what's causing this persistent problem. By understanding these specific pathways, we hope to find new ways to help restore smell and taste.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, targeted treatments for individuals experiencing long-term smell and taste loss after COVID-19.
How similar studies have gone: Classical anti-inflammatory treatments have not been effective for this condition, suggesting this approach to identify specific immune pathways is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bankova, Lora — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Bankova, Lora
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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.