Post-viral AnosmiaNCT07857083
SniffTrain: Effectiveness of Sniff Training in the Treatment of Post-Viral Anosmia
A study testing Sniff Training Kits in people with Post-viral Anosmia and Anosmia, run by University of Virginia at 3 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to learn whether a structured smell training program (called "sniff training") can help improve sense of smell and quality of life in people who have experienced a reduced or lost sense of smell following a viral illness (also called post-viral anosmia). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 10 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Post-viral Anosmia, Anosmia, Hyposmia
- What is being tested?
- Sniff Training Kits
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 204 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 5 Jan 2027to 31 Jul 2031
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 10 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 10 - 60 years old
- For adults, competent and willing to give informed consent
- For minors, competent and willing to give assent, with informed consent from the parent-guardian
- Willing to undergo study procedures
- Able to follow written and verbal instructions in English
- Be able to report test/questionnaire answers via a computer, tablet, or smartphone interface
- Have a diagnosis of anosmia or hyposmia resulting from a viral infection of the upper respiratory system, with the time since the initial loss of olfactory function > 3 months and < 2 years prior
Who cannot join
- Aged less than 10 years old, and greater than 60 years old
- Prisoners
- Cognitively impaired individuals
- Individuals who are deemed to not have the capacity to consent by the study team through observation and direct interaction
- Individuals 50-60 years old who score <31 on the TICS survey (to rule out potential dementia)
- Non-English speaking subjects
Show all 23Show fewer
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Diseases of the central nervous system (including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, brain tumors), nasal obstruction (tumors/polyps)
- History of nasal or sinus surgery
- History of a severe head injury/concussion
- History of chronic sinus infections, allergic rhinitis, and active sinonasal disease
- History of radiation therapy to the head or neck (ever)
- Recent chemotherapy (within the last year)
- History of lung/pulmonary disease
- Diagnosis of an olfactory disorder with an etiology other than a viral infection of the upper respiratory system
- Use of the following medications (used within 3 months of enrollment):
- Oral corticosteroids
- Topical corticosteroids
- Biologic agents used in the treatment of nasal/sinus inflammation (dupilumab, omalizumab, mepolizumab, tezepelumab)
- Theophylline nasal spray
- Nasal vitamin A
- Nasal sodium citrate
- A time since loss of olfactory function < 3 months and > 2 years.
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States3 sites
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland, 21218
Nicholas Rowan, 443-997-6467, nrowan1@jhmi.edu
Nicholas Rowan
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, 29425
Rodney Schlosser, 843-792-2300, schlossr@musc.edu
Rodney Schlosser
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903
Mackenzie Koch, 434-531-5354, mk2nu@uvahealth.org
Steven Munger
About this study
The purpose of this study is to learn whether a structured smell training program (called "sniff training") can help improve sense of smell and quality of life in people who have experienced a reduced or lost sense of smell following a viral illness (also called post-viral anosmia).
- Conditions
- Post-viral Anosmia, Anosmia, Hyposmia
- Being tested
- Sniff Training Kits
- Keywords
- smell, olfaction, odor, sniffing
- Medical subject headings
- Anosmia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Sniff Training KitsOther
This study will test the ability of a structured smell training protocol (called "sniff training") to improved smell function. Participants will be asked to sniff inhaler cartridges containing different USDA GRAS (generally recognized as safe) odors (such as lemon, leather, strawberry, banana, etc). The amount of odor may differ, and odors may or may not be identified on the inhalers. The inhaler cartridge are provided at no charge to study participants in kits that contain four inhalers each.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1: Sniffing named odors | Active comparator | Participants randomly assigned to Arm 1 will receive sniff training kits containing four inhaler cartridges, with each cartridge containing a different odor (such as lemon, leather, rose, banana, etc). Odor names will be on the cartridges. Participants are instructed to sniff each inhaler cartridge in the morning and evening for 12 weeks. After this initial 12 weeks, participants will receive a new kit which may contain four different odors. These new inhaler cartridges will be sniffed for an additional 12 weeks. At several points in the study, participants will take smell tests or answer questionnaires to assess their ability to smell, their quality of life, and their psychological and neurological health. Receives: Other: Sniff Training Kits |
| Arm 2: Sniffing unnamed odors | Active comparator | Arm 2 will be identical to Arm 1 with the exception that the inhaler cartridges provided to participants randomly assigned to Arm 2 will not have labels identifying the aroma contained in each cartridge. Receives: Other: Sniff Training Kits |
| Arm 3: Control Arm | Other | Arm 3 will be identical to Arm 2 with the exception that the inhaler cartridges will not contain the same amount of odor as in the inhaler cartridges used in Arm 2. Receives: Other: Sniff Training Kits |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Improvement in Odor Perception
The investigators will use a highly-validated psychophysical smell test (the Sniffin' Sticks Extended Test) to assess changes in olfactory perception and their duration. This test is the primary outcome measure. The resulting TDI score reflects performance on three related test components that measure odor detection Threshold, odor Discrimination, and odor Identification. The scale is 0-48, with higher scores indicating greater function. Investigators will also administer another highly-validated psychophysical smell test, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). The score on this 40 point test will not be used to determine the primary outcome but will allow direct comparisons to some other studies that used this measure (higher scores indicated greater function).
Measured: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks
Secondary outcomes (4)
Improvement in social and emotional loneliness
Patients with smell loss often experience negative changes in mental health, including increased loneliness. The investigators will use the well-validated De Jong Gierveld short scale questionnaire, composed of six questions, to assess changes in the levels of emotional and social loneliness for each participant. Higher scores on the six-point scale indicates greater loneliness.
Measured: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks
Improvement in quality of life
Patients with smell loss often experience negative changes in their quality of life. To assess changes in health-related quality of life, the investigators will administer the SF-12v2 Health Survey questionnaire (or alternatively the Child Health Questionnaire for participants younger than 18 years old). The SF12v2 provides summary, norm-based scores for mental and physical components, with scores of 50 corresponding to the US population average. Higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life.
Measured: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks
Changes in olfactory-associated quality of life
Patients with smell loss often experience negative changes in their quality of life. To assess changes in quality of life aspects that have been previously shown to be correlated with olfactory function, the investigators will administer the olfactory-salient Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements (QOD-NS). Higher scores on this 51 point scale indicate a greater negative impact of olfactory dysfunction on quality of life.
Measured: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks
Changes in cognitive function
Several studies have suggested that smell training can improve cognitive function. The investigators will administer the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to measure changes in multiple domains of cognitive function in study participants. The MoCA will only be administered to participants ages 14 years old and up. Higher scores on this 30 point scale indicate better cognitive performance.
Measured: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Oct 2026
- Study start5 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Jul 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jul 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Post-viral AnosmiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of VirginiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 204 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Virginia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Johns Hopkins University, Medical University of South Carolina
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Steven Munger, University of Virginia
- Investigators
- Steven Munger, Principal investigator, University of Virginia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07857083
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 303565
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- SniffTrain: Effectiveness of Sniff Training in the Treatment of Post-Viral Anosmia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07857083
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 303565
- Conditions
- Post-viral Anosmia, Anosmia, Hyposmia
- Keywords
- smell, olfaction, odor, sniffing
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 204 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of VirginiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Johns Hopkins University, Medical University of South Carolina
- Study start
- 5 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jul 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to learn whether a structured smell training program (called "sniff training") can help improve sense of smell and quality of life in people who have experienced a reduced or lost sense of smell following a viral illness (also called post-viral anosmia).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1: Sniffing named odors | Active comparator | Other: Sniff Training KitsParticipants randomly assigned to Arm 1 will receive sniff training kits containing four inhaler cartridges, with each cartridge containing a different odor (such as lemon, leather, rose, banana, etc). Odor names will be on the cartridges. Participants are instructed to sniff each inhaler cartridge in the morning and evening for 12 weeks. After this initial 12 weeks, participants will receive a new kit which may contain four different odors. These new inhaler cartridges will be sniffed for an additional 12 weeks. At several points in the study, participants will take smell tests or answer questionnaires to assess their ability to smell, their quality of life, and their psychological and neurological health. |
| Arm 2: Sniffing unnamed odors | Active comparator | Other: Sniff Training KitsArm 2 will be identical to Arm 1 with the exception that the inhaler cartridges provided to participants randomly assigned to Arm 2 will not have labels identifying the aroma contained in each cartridge. |
| Arm 3: Control Arm | Other | Other: Sniff Training KitsArm 3 will be identical to Arm 2 with the exception that the inhaler cartridges will not contain the same amount of odor as in the inhaler cartridges used in Arm 2. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 10 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Aged 10 - 60 years old
- For adults, competent and willing to give informed consent
- For minors, competent and willing to give assent, with informed consent from the parent-guardian
- Willing to undergo study procedures
- Able to follow written and verbal instructions in English
Key exclusion criteria (23 listed)
- Aged less than 10 years old, and greater than 60 years old
- Prisoners
- Cognitively impaired individuals
- Non-English speaking subjects
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Sniff Training KitsThis study will test the ability of a structured smell training protocol (called "sniff training") to improved smell function. Participants will be asked to sniff inhaler cartridges containing different USDA GRAS (generally recognized as safe) odors (such as lemon, leather, strawberry, banana, etc). The amount of odor may differ, and odors may or may not be identified on the inhalers. The inhaler cartridge are provided at no charge to study participants in kits that contain four inhalers each. | Other | Arm 1: Sniffing named odors, Arm 2: Sniffing unnamed odors, Arm 3: Control Arm |
Primary outcome
Improvement in Odor Perception
Time frame: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks
The investigators will use a highly-validated psychophysical smell test (the Sniffin' Sticks Extended Test) to assess changes in olfactory perception and their duration. This test is the primary outcome measure. The resulting TDI score reflects performance on three related test components that measure odor detection Threshold, odor Discrimination, and odor Identification. The scale is 0-48, with higher scores indicating greater function. Investigators will also administer another highly-validated psychophysical smell test, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). The score on this 40 point test will not be used to determine the primary outcome but will allow direct comparisons to some other studies that used this measure (higher scores indicated greater function).
4 secondary outcomes
Improvement in social and emotional loneliness
Time frame: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks
Improvement in quality of life
Time frame: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks
Changes in olfactory-associated quality of life
Time frame: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks
Changes in cognitive function
Time frame: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Post-viral Anosmia
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Dysfunction of Olfaction After COVID-19 Infection: Morphological and Histomolecular Investigation
Covid19, Olfactory Dysfunction
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Study of Chemosensory Enhancement Through Neuromodulation Training (SCENT for Long COVID)
Smell Dysfunction, Olfactory Disorder
Active, not recruitingObservational study
Longitudinal At Home Smell Testing to Detect Infection by SARS-CoV-2
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Steven Munger principal investigator
University of Virginia
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Sniff Training Kits in people with Post-viral Anosmia and Anosmia, run by University of Virginia at 3 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 23 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nino McHedlishvili (434-243-3643, nm6s@virginia.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Improvement in Odor Perception (time frame: From enrollment to the end-of-study visit at 52 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Oct 2026.