Using smell to diagnose diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer
Official title: Odorprint Based Disease Diagnostics
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11092824 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $932,693 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021826-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092824 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk for or diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other metabolic disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to olfactory diagnostics or those who do not have access to the research facilities may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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 University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rinberg, Dmitry — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Rinberg, Dmitry
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.