Researchers at Oxford Brookes University are investigating how losing or noticing changes to taste and/or smell due to Covid-19 might have an impact on mental health. The study involves a completely anonymous questionnaire.

Please click here if you’d like to take part: https://brookeshls.co1.qualtrics.com/…/SV_cLTJQRdNJOzJWVo

Lead researcher, Dr Andy Mitchelmore explains: “The impact of smell/taste disorders are part of Long-Covid which is under-researched compared to some of the other consequences of the virus, and the mental health of people living with impaired taste and smell is hugely important to investigate. As well as collecting information from people who have had issues with taste and/or smell, we are collecting data from people who have no history of Covid-19 or taste and/or smell loss as a comparison group – so even if you have had no taste or smell issues, please do take part! Please ask you family and friends to get involved.”

You have the option of providing an email address so you can receive a copy of the study when it’s completed – we will include the outcomes on our Research page when they are available.

#LetsTalkSmellAndTaste Events

Is your smell disorder a result of a viral infection including Covid-19?
Do you live in the UK?

If you have answered yes to BOTH questions, you may be eligible to take part in a clinical trial.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia are launching a new project to see whether Vitamin A could help people regain their sense of smell after viral infections including Covid-19.

Smell loss is a common symptom of Covid-19, but even before COVID, many viruses had been causing smell loss and distortion and while most people naturally regain their sense of smell within a couple of weeks, many have been left with on-going smell disorders.

Previous research from Germany has shown the potential benefit of Vitamin-A, and the UEA team will explore how this treatment works to help repair tissues in the nose damaged by viruses.

They hope that the study, which has been funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), could one-day help improve the lives of millions around the world who suffer from smell loss, by returning their fifth sense.

To take part in this trial, patients need to be referred by to The Smell and Taste Clinic at the James Paget Hospital by their GP. Recruitment is expected to begin in December 2021.

To find out more visit https://rhinology-group.uea.ac.uk/apollo-trial or contact apollo.trial@uea.ac.uk

The NIHR is the largest funder of research in the country, and is the research partner of the NHS and social care. To find out more about other NIHR research happening near you, visit www.bepartofresearch.uk.

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!

We are extremely excited to be hosting our bi-annual conference at the Hotel Brooklyn in the vibrant city of Manchester.  We look forward to welcoming you to join us in celebrating 10 years since Founder and Chair, Duncan Boak met with Prof. Carl Philpott and they developed the concept of the charity. For more information and to book your places click here

We are very pleased to announce that the first Liverpool/The North West Live Hub Meeting was a great success and the perfect way to introduce more in-person events.

As many of you will be aware, SmellTaste has been providing free online #LetsTalkSmellAndTaste sessions during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was necessary to continue to provide a space to discuss, share and feel supported by other people that have been impacted by a smell and/or taste disorder while giving an opportunity to learn from experts in a range of different fields. Since the world is slowly starting to open back up, our in-person events will begin to be our main source of community support while maintaining our online #LetsTalkSmellAndTaste events.

With this being our first in-person event for some time – we couldn’t be happier with how the event unfolded and it was lovely to see people again face-to-face. Based in the ‘Fashion Hub’ in the centre of Liverpool, this quirky yet comfortable location provided the perfect place to encourage discussion while having the essentials to showcase interesting and thought-provoking presentations. A range of topics were discussed on the day including an ‘Introduction to Smell and Taste Disorders’, the ‘Anatomy and Physiology of Smell and Taste’, practical information and guidance on how ‘Mindfulness’ can improve quality of life, ‘Nasal Rinsing’ techniques and much more! These topics were covered by some of the leading minds in the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) world and we are honoured to have their continued support to help people affected by smell and taste disorders. Please see the list below for the speakers that spoke at this event. Lastly, we would like to give a massive thank you to everyone that attended this event – we hope these sessions provide you with a place to feel understood and to connect with other people that may have been through similar experiences.

To join our Liverpool/North West hub you can contact us directly at – Liverpool.northwest@fifthsense.org.uk

*List of speakers:

Mr Andrew Swift – Consultant ENT Surgeon / President Elect of ENTUK from Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Dafna Gershnabel Milk – Rhinology Fellow from Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Ms Helen Beer – Consultant ENT Surgeon from Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Mr Sam Leong – Consultant ENT Surgeon from Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Ms Grace Khong – Paediatric ENT Consultant from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital

Debs Davies – SmellTaste Ambassador and Life Coach

Jant Hothershall – SmellTaste Volunteer

Tracy McDonough – SmellTaste Volunteer

Mike Evans  – The Brain Charity