Using smell to diagnose diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer

Odorprint Based Disease Diagnostics

['FUNDING_R01'] · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-11092824

This study is exploring how we might use our sense of smell to help diagnose diseases by looking at changes in sweat, breath, urine, and blood, and it’s designed for anyone interested in new, gentle ways to detect health issues.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorNEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11092824 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates how certain diseases can be diagnosed through the sense of smell by analyzing metabolic changes in biospecimens such as sweat, breath, urine, and blood. The study will focus on the olfactory system of mice, examining how their sensory neurons respond to different odors associated with healthy and diseased states. By imaging the olfactory bulb and analyzing the patterns of neuronal activity, researchers aim to identify key features that differentiate between disease and health. This innovative approach could lead to new diagnostic methods that are non-invasive and highly sensitive.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk for or diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other metabolic disorders.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to olfactory diagnostics or those who do not have access to the research facilities may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to groundbreaking non-invasive diagnostic tools for diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using olfactory cues for disease diagnosis, indicating that this approach may be viable.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.