March 2017 - Monell Newsletter: Olfaction - A Sense of Health
- The Social Costs of Smell Loss in Older Women. A new study from Johan Lundström’s lab reports a link between the ability to identify odors and the social lives of older women. “The sense of smell is a key aspect of overall health in the aging population,” says Lundström.
- Potential New Causes for the Disorder TMAU. A gene sequencing technique known as exome analysis provides new insight into the causes of trimethylaminura (TMAU), a genetically-transmitted metabolic disorder that can cause affected individuals to produce a fish-like odor.
- Monell Receives Ovarian Cancer Detection Grant. Critical funding from the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation will allow George Preti to confirm and extend findings of a unique odor pattern for ovarian cancer that can be used to detect the disease in its early, treatable stages.
- The DREAM Olfaction Prediction Challenge. For the past two years, Monell olfactory neuroscientist Joel Mainland has been working with scientists around the globe to better understand how the brain transforms information from chemical molecules into the perception of a smell.
- Monell Scientists Bruce Kimball and Joel Mainland Receive Promotions. The two faculty members’ promotions reflect their notable contributions to olfactory research at Monell.
- The Sense-Sational World of Olive Oil. On May 2, join us to discover the tastes, travels, and science behind olive oil! Enjoy an evening of expert presentations on olive oil’s healthy attributes, sensory science demonstrations led by Monell scientists, olive oil tastings, and more.
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