Monell researchers have developed a machine learning model to predict the similarity between scent mixtures, achieving a median RMSE of 0.08 and a Pearson correlation of 0.57. The model uses semantic language to describe scent mixtures, suggesting a significant leap forward in predicting scent similarities.
The Monell Chemical Senses Center has signed a 20-year lease to relocate and expand its operations to One uCity Square. The new facility will provide world-class support for sensory science discovery and strengthen Philadelphia's life sciences ecosystem.
A Monell Center-led research team discovered that a genetic variant linked to onion preference is associated with lower blood pressure and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Genetic variants in taste and smell receptor genes affect food preferences and have direct health consequences for outcomes such as blood pressure.
Researchers found that fructose communicates with the brain through a different gut-brain pathway, leading to less effective hunger suppression compared to glucose. This study challenges the idea that hunger-related neurons track calorie intake regardless of nutrient source.
Two graduate students, Yixin Jia and Aurora Anderson, receive scholarships to tackle distinct challenges in flavor science. Yixin investigates saliva's influence on sugar alternative taste, while Aurora aims to identify primary odors for simplified flavor creation.
Researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center presented their investigations on added sugars, smell and taste function while taking GLP-1 weight loss medications, odor mixtures, oral sensitivity to sucrose and dairy fat. The studies found associations between chemosensory disturbances, especially altered taste perception, and the ...
A new consensus statement emphasizes the need for increased chemosensory testing to address growing concerns about smell and taste dysfunction. The statement highlights seven broad challenges and opportunities to implement universal chemosensory testing, including developing methods for reimbursement and standardizing data collection.
A new study found that carbon stable isotope values, which measure dietary intake of added sugars, do not predict sugar consumption among young children but do among mothers. The researchers suggest that this may be due to differences in diet during childhood versus adulthood.
A Monell Center study found that GLP-1 receptor agonists can effectively manage metabolic complications associated with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by early-onset obesity and cognitive impairments. The therapy significantly reduced food intake, caused weight loss, improved glucose tolerance, and normali...
Researchers found that ibuprofen inhibits the activation of the sweet taste receptor in people and human cells, affecting glucose metabolism. The study suggests this mechanism could contribute to reduced risk of metabolic diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, and colon cancer.
A global study led by the Monell Chemical Senses Center found significant variations in bitterness ratings among adults from different ancestries, suggesting personalized formulations to improve medicine taste. Genetic variants and bitter modifier effectiveness also differed across groups.
Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center identified brain neurons that encode memories of sugar and fat, driving feeding behavior and metabolic health. Silencing these neurons impairs an animal's ability to recall sugar-related memories, reducing sugar consumption and preventing weight gain.
A new collaborative research group, the Breakthrough Consortium for Olfactory Health, was launched to drive therapeutic and technical advances in smell disorders. The consortium brings together charities, patient groups, researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies to establish evidence-based clinical pathways.
Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center have extracted oleocanthal and oleacein from privet leaves, which could pave the way for human studies in inflammation-related diseases. The discovery may lead to new treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and other conditions.
The collaboration aims to explore unique sensory differences between Asian and Western populations, informing consumer preferences and product development. The partnership will develop sensory testing protocols specific to Asians, incorporating traditional Eastern culinary practices with advanced methodologies.
Researchers from Monell Chemical Senses Center discovered a population of neurons controlling food intake without inducing nausea in an animal model. The study found that targeting these neurons could lead to improved weight loss medications with fewer side effects.
A survey of over 5,800 patients with impaired smell or taste identified a need for larger-scale clinical trials and personalized treatment approaches. The findings also revealed that age is a significant predictor of treatment effectiveness, with older adults reporting lower efficacy rates.
A team of scientists at Monell Chemical Senses Center identified a temporary, universal taste blocker that works in people. The study found that rinsing with AF-353 significantly reduced bitterness in two important medicines for chronic diseases, paving the way for improving medicine compliance in children and the elderly.
A recent study published by Monell researchers found that stimulation and inhibition of the TAS1R2-TAS1R3 sweet taste receptor influences glucose metabolism in humans. The receptor plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for managing metabolic disorders.
Researchers found that adding rosiglitazone to medicines reduces bitterness for many people, but not all. The discovery may lead to more effective bitter blockers and improve medication adherence.
A Monell Center study reveals separate gut-brain pathways for fat and sugar cravings, leading to overeating when combined. The research provides insights into the neural wiring behind motivated eating behavior, suggesting a potential target for anti-obesity strategies.
Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center identified genetic markers that can predict a child's reaction to sweetened medicine. These findings suggest that tailoring medications to individual tastes could help prevent unintentional poison exposures among children under six years old.
A machine-learning model has achieved human-level proficiency at describing odors, according to a study published in Science. The model matched the prose descriptions of a molecule's odor with its molecular structure, creating a novel data-driven map of human olfaction.
Researchers found that inducing inflammation triggers an epigenetic response in Tas2r genes, leading to a decrease in sweet taste preference and potentially affecting appetite and medication tolerance. This study has significant clinical implications for understanding behavioral aspects of illness and developing effective bitter blockers.
A large and diverse group of over 10,000 participants showed a significant reduction in taste intensity, with a 21% decrease compared to those without symptoms. The team used a simple, non-invasive test to track chemical senses, demonstrating that COVID-19 affects taste perception independent of smell.
A research group led by Yali Zhang has discovered the molecular basis for the sense of alkaline taste in fruit flies. They identified a previously unknown chloride ion channel, named Alka, which plays a critical role in detecting and avoiding high-pH food.
The SCENTinel 1.1 test successfully discriminated between different types of smell disorders, including quantitative and qualitative olfactory dysfunction. It identified parosmia, a distorted perception of odors, with high accuracy and has the potential to be used as a rapid screening tool for olfactory dysfunction.
A large meta-analysis suggests that reports of taste loss in COVID-19 patients are genuine and distinguishable from smell loss. The study found that age and sex influenced the prevalence of taste loss, with middle-aged individuals having the highest rate.
Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center found that COVID-19 patients experience distinct smell distortions, with parosmia affecting younger females more often and phantosmia common in middle-aged individuals. The study suggests that understanding these differences may help physicians treat patients better.
A new study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center reveals that humans have a second sensory ability to detect sugars in the mouth that involves detecting potential energy-burning sugars. This discovery has implications for designing tastier, healthier beverages and foods.
Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center found that certain food proteins like egg yolk can suppress the bitter taste and pungency of extra virgin olive oil. This discovery may encourage increased consumption of healthy olive oil for cooking and medicinal purposes.
Research finds that fruit flies use two distinct types of gustatory receptor neurons to discriminate between low and high concentrations of acid, explaining why many animals are attracted to slightly acidic foods but repulsed by highly acidic ones. A key protein, Otopetrin-like, plays a crucial role in attractive sour taste response.
Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center found that insulin is essential for maturing and regenerating olfactory sensory neurons after injury. Insulin promotes regeneration of OSNs, even in nondiabetic mice, indicating a new therapy option for treating smell loss.
Researchers found that direct measures of smell ability reveal a higher prevalence of COVID-19-related smell loss, estimated at 77%, compared to self-report methods, which underestimate the true prevalence. The study suggests that measuring people's sense of smell may become as routine as measuring body temperature for fever.
Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center found that genetic traits shape an individual's preference for fatty foods. The study used identical and fraternal twins to test the relationship between fat content and flavor perception.
Amber Alhadeff, a behavioral neurobiologist at Monell Chemical Senses Center, has been awarded a $225,000 Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in Neurosciences to study the role of gut signals in hunger-related neurons. Her research aims to improve understanding of diet-related diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found special sensory cells in the gums that detect irritants and bacteria, triggering an immune response to control oral microbiome. The discovery could lead to personalized dental treatments against gum disease.
A study analyzing nearly 400,000 food reviews found that many people think today's foods are too sweet, with sweet being the most frequently mentioned taste quality. The researchers used machine learning to identify words related to taste and found that over-sweetness was mentioned 25 times more often than under-sweetness.
A recent study from the Monell Center sheds light on individual differences in odor perception, finding that small changes in olfactory receptor genes can significantly impact how strong and pleasant an odor is. The research used high-throughput sequencing technology to identify genetic variations affecting odor perception.
Scientists from the Monell Center have discovered that humans possess functional olfactory receptors in their taste cells, challenging the long-held belief that smell and taste are independent sensory systems. This groundbreaking finding may lead to the development of odor-based taste modifiers to combat diet-related diseases.
Researchers used mathematical modeling to understand how cells communicate effectively in highly constricted spaces like olfactory cilia. The model showed that relying on Cl- ions instead of Na+ provides advantages for odor detection, enabling reliable responses despite an unstable external environment.
A new study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center reveals that healthy animals' bodily odors change when they are near sick animals, potentially impacting social contacts and disease spread. The findings suggest that exposure to sickness-related odors can trigger protective responses in others.
A new study by Monell Center scientists has identified a mysterious sensory cell called microvillous cells (MVCs) that protect the vulnerable olfactory epithelium from viruses and bacteria. These cells may represent potential therapeutic targets to maintain a healthy sense of smell.
A new collaboration grant will support development of next-generation screening technologies to identify bitter taste blockers. The goal is to advance human health by improving the taste and acceptability of nutritious plant-based foods.
A recent study from Monell Center and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found individual differences in the sensory response to Kaletra, a pediatric HIV medication. Genetic sources of taste variation were identified, suggesting potential solutions to improve medicine adherence in infants and young children.
A new study from the Monell Center enables researchers to pinpoint the unique molecular components needed for each type of taste cell to function. This breakthrough provides a treasure trove of information on how taste cells respond to different compounds and can help devise ways to promote healthy eating.
A new study from the Monell Center has identified novel genes and molecular pathways involved in shaping a taste cell's function, potentially allowing for the treatment of taste disorders or fine-tuning of taste perception. The research also sheds light on how taste stem cells develop into different types of mature taste cells.
A new study by Monell Center researchers found that older U.S. women with poor olfactory function tend to have fewer social connections and a poorer social life score. The study suggests that maintaining a vital social life can help improve mental and physical health in older adults.
Researchers have identified additional genes that may contribute to the metabolic disorder TMAU, suggesting that genetic testing may not be sufficient to identify all cases. This new insight provides reassurance to those who report fish-like odor symptoms without mutations in the FMO3 gene.
Researchers will utilize a unique odor signature to create a portable screening device for early-stage ovarian cancer diagnosis. The project aims to improve survival rates by identifying the disease at its initial stages.