Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Monell Chemical Senses Center received a $2.65 million Project Grant award from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173), effective March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2031. The grant funds the establishment of a clinical research center dedicated to investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying sustained taste and smell loss associated with COVID-19 (long COVID). The center delivers three integrated research projects examining chemosensory dysfunction in patients with and without sustained loss, including pediatric populations, with particular focus on inflammation of olfactory and taste epithelium. Projects 2 and 3 include development of organoid models to assess responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants and other viral pathogens.

In addition to research activities, the grant supports an Administrative and Chemosensory Clinical Services Core that provides essential research infrastructure services, including standardized assessment tools for cross-project participant comparison, clinical services, and comprehensive outreach and education initiatives targeting clinicians, patients, patient advocacy groups, and policymakers. The center leverages the expertise of leading researchers in the chemical senses field and applies an interdisciplinary approach to address a significant public health concern affecting long COVID patients. The research directly supports the NIDCD mission to investigate solutions for disorders affecting taste and smell perception.