The Monell-Jefferson Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCRC) involves a collaboration between scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center and physicians at Thomas Jefferson University. Collaborative projects also exist with physicians at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Wills Eye Hospital and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Philadelphia. The CCRC is devoted to the scientific examination of clinical disorders in taste and smell, as well as to basic research in the chemical senses. Through the multidisciplinary study of clinical populations, CCRC scientists expect to characterize and understand the etiologies of disorders in chemosensory function, provide information on mechanisms and functions of the chemical senses in humans, and develop strategies for treating/coping with chemosensory disorders. The proposed renewal of the CCRC will comprise an Administrative Core unit, a Sensory Core unit (which oversees the evaluation of referred patients with primary complaints of chemosensory disorders), and five individual research projects. The general aims of the CCRC will be: 1) to continue to provide a clinic facility for the evaluation of chemosensory disorders and the study of their etiologies and prognoses, with a specific focus on distortion syndromes (dysosmia and dysgeusia); 2) to study normal and abnormal human olfactory function at the cellular and molecular levels, applying sensitive electrophysiological, biophysical and molecular biological techniques to human olfactory biopsy material; 3) to identify non-invasive indices for salt sensitivity and to develop effective dietary intervention strategies for individuals at risk for hypertension; 4) to initiate studies of the nature and physiological bases of drug-related taste dysfunction, with focus on disturbances in oral sensory perception associated with the use of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors; 5) to continue to explore the functional characteristic of, and individual variations in, nasal trigeminal stimulation in both normosmic and anosmic individuals; and 6) to evaluate the relationships between the metabolic disorder trimethylaminuria and chemosensation, examine the biochemical basis of this disorder and explore the molecular genetics of the biochemical defect.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Specialized Center (P50)
Project #
5P50DC000214-10
Application #
2125136
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Project Start
1986-02-01
Project End
1999-01-31
Budget Start
1995-02-01
Budget End
1996-01-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Monell Chemical Senses Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Wise, Paul M; Wysocki, Charles J; Lundström, Johan N (2012) Stimulus selection for intranasal sensory isolation: eugenol is an irritant. Chem Senses 37:509-14
Lee, Robert J; Xiong, Guoxiang; Kofonow, Jennifer M et al. (2012) T2R38 taste receptor polymorphisms underlie susceptibility to upper respiratory infection. J Clin Invest 122:4145-59
Rawson, Nancy E; Gomez, George; Cowart, Beverly J et al. (2012) Age-associated loss of selectivity in human olfactory sensory neurons. Neurobiol Aging 33:1913-9
Borgmann-Winter, K E; Rawson, N E; Wang, H-Y et al. (2009) Human olfactory epithelial cells generated in vitro express diverse neuronal characteristics. Neuroscience 158:642-53
Baraniuk, James N; Merck, Samantha J (2008) Nasal reflexes: implications for exercise, breathing, and sex. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 8:147-53
Baraniuk, James N (2008) Neural regulation of mucosal function. Pulm Pharmacol Ther 21:442-8
Baraniuk, James N; Ho Le, Uyenphuong (2007) The nonallergic rhinitis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Clin Allergy Immunol 19:427-47
Baraniuk, James N; Kim, Dennis (2007) Nasonasal reflexes, the nasal cycle, and sneeze. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 7:105-11
Staevska, Maria T; Baraniuk, James N (2007) Rhinitis and sleep apnea. Clin Allergy Immunol 19:449-72
Zhao, Kai; Dalton, Pamela; Yang, Geoffery C et al. (2006) Numerical modeling of turbulent and laminar airflow and odorant transport during sniffing in the human and rat nose. Chem Senses 31:107-18

Showing the most recent 10 out of 34 publications