Genetic Basis of Odor Discrimination

Prior to the main study we will perform a pilot study on 60 subjects. The purpose of the pilot study is to identify the range of odor concentrations that will be used in the main study and to optimize the tasks performed in the main study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Non-smokers

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 512

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10065
      • The Rockefeller University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy volunteers

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18-50
2. Current non-smokers

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current smokers
2. Allergy to fragrances or smells of any kind
3. Active head cold, upper respiratory infection, or seasonal nasal allergies
4. History of nasal health problems, including endoscopic nasal surgery for sinus conditions or polyp removal.
5. Pre-existing medical condition that has caused anosmia or near total loss of the sense of smell, such as: head injury, cancer therapy, radiation to head and neck, or alcoholism

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Percentage of correct responses when discriminating between (-)-carvone and (+)-carvone, isovaleric acid and isobutyric acid, androstenone and androstadienone DNA sequence of ORs sensitive to these odors	3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
concentration at which odors need to be added to allow for discrimination; thresholds to all six odors; verbal descriptors assigned to all six odors	3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Rockefeller University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Leslie Vosshall, PhD, The Rockefeller University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 23, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 24, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): December 25, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 6, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 5, 2012
• Last Verified: September 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Odor Discrimination
• Other Study ID Numbers: LVO-0684