UCL researchers recruiting London residents for a digital smell training research project.
If you live in London, have a smartphone, are aged between 45-55 with a reduced sense of smell or between 65-75 and consider yourself to have a functional sense of smell, and would like to help us with a smell training research project, please read on.
Our sense of smell is essential to our health, safety, and wellbeing. Living with a poor or no sense of smell is challenging and makes us more vulnerable to dangers such as gas, smoke, and spoiled food.
Yet so often we are told it’s something we just have to put up with or accept as part of the ageing process.
‘Smell training’ is a term used to describe regular, active, mindful smelling. We know that some people experiencing smell loss or distorted smells can find it helpful. It can also help people with a functional sense of smell to make the most of what is often an undervalued sense.
A research team from University College London (UCL) are currently looking for volunteers who live in London to participate in a feasibility study to assess how a digital device can be used at home for regular mindful smell training exercises.
The research team are looking to recruit people to two study groups:
Group 1:
People aged between 45-55 who currently have a reduced sense of smell.
Group 2:
People aged between 65-75 who consider themselves to have a functional sense of smell.
Interested?
You can read more about what the project involves, including the opportunity to meet up with the researchers and with other participants, and how the research team will manage expenses and thank you for your involvement with shopping vouchers here: Call for Participants (smell-care.co.uk)
You can fill out an expression of interest form here: Smell Care (qualtrics.com)
If you have any questions about your eligibility for the study, please get in touch with the research team at smellcareuk@gmail.com
We’re sorry but the research team are not looking for people with complete anosmia, or those who are experiencing parosmia or phantosmia for much of the time.
If you smoke more than two packs of cigarettes a day; have allergies or hypersensitive reactions to essential oils; don’t have a smart phone or; would struggle to use or read text from a mobile device, you won’t be able to participate in the study.
Fifth Sense is proud to be working with scientists and researchers with the aim of improving the health, quality of life and wellbeing of people affected by smell and taste disorders.
You can read more about our research goals here: Research Hub – Fifth Sense
Thank you for your interest in this project. We can achieve far more, and get there faster, by working together rather than standing alone.