Patient Resources
UF Center for Smell and Taste
The University of Florida Center for Smell and Taste (UFCST) was established in 1998. This University-wide Center includes over 50 faculty across eight different Colleges. The mission of the UFCST is to facilitate new discoveries in smell and taste; to translate those discoveries to benefit UF, the State of Florida and the nation; to train the next generation of chemosensory researchers; and to educate the public about the chemical senses. The UFCST applies this broad knowledge base to create a unique opportunity to advance discovery, application, and education in the chemical senses that can serve the state, the Southeast, and the nation.
Fifth Sense
Fifth Sense exists to provide support and advice to people affected by smell and taste-related disorders, and so that society can understand what it means to suffer impairment of one or both of these senses.
Based in the UK, Fifth Sense supports people across the world, and are the first charity providing direct support, advice, and a signpost to potential diagnosis and treatment.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), a member of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is mandated to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. The Institute also conducts and supports research and research training related to disease prevention and health promotion; addresses special biomedical and behavioral problems associated with people who have communication impairments or disorders; and supports efforts to create devices which substitute for lost and impaired sensory and communication function.
Association for Chemoreception Sciences
AChemS, the Association for Chemoreception Sciences, is the largest scientific research organization dedicated to understanding the “chemical senses” of smell, taste, trigeminal irritation and internal chemoreception, from the fundamentals of neurobiology to complex behavior. AChemS seeks to advance the understanding of chemosensory mechanisms; encourage basic, clinical, and applied research in the chemical senses; promote an appreciation of the need and impact of chemosensory research; represent the interests of the chemosensory research community; serve as a resource for those requiring expertise in the chemical senses.
European Chemoreception Research Organization
ECRO was inaugurated in 1970 at the International Summer Course on Odour Perception, in Utrecht, with the aim of promoting and coordinating research in chemoreception.
It was officially registered in Paris in 1971 and although it began as a European venture, it now has members from outside Europe and sees its function as world-wide. The goal of ECRO is to promote fundamental and applied research in chemosensory sciences, especially olfaction and taste.
Communities
There are many Facebook groups set up for individuals will all types of smell disorders to connect with others to share experiences and understanding.
The following is a small list of Facebook groups the UF Health Smell Disorders Program is familiar with:
