Partial and total loss of smell (hyposmia / anosmia) impacts 20% of the global population with adverse effects on quality of life. The Covid pandemic has shown that nearly one in two Covid-positive people worldwide suffers from olfactory loss which persists in some cases. Unlike other sensory systems, there is currently no advanced technology that can partially or totally restore the sense of smell. This interdisciplinary research project will combine nanotechnology, microtechnology, biotechnology, mechanical design, neurosurgery, clinical olfaction, neuroscience and cognitive psychology. The ultimate goal of the ROSE project is to develop a proof of concept combining miniaturized odor sensors and stimulation arrays that will be evaluated in patients with smell disorders.
ROSE has been awarded over 3 million euros in European funding under the European Union’s H2020 European Innovation Council Pathfinder Pilot programme (formerly known as Horizon 2020 FET-Open). The project is coordinated by the French National Centre for Scientific Research and more precisely by the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center ( CRNL , CNRS / Inserm / Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University). It will combine the efforts of other international partners : Politecnico di Milano (Italy), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Suisse), University of Thessaloniki (Greece,), University of Dresden , Aryballe (France,) and CEA (France).
"We are excited for the new generation of innovation this will spark from the project to overcome scientific and social challenges in the area of neuroscience and olfaction in particular" Dr. Moustafa Bensafi, CNRS researcher, coordinator of the ROSE project
In addition to its central objective, the ROSE project will also open up new scientific and technological possibilities for miniaturization of affinity sensors for other applications. These include integration into household appliances, R&D and quality control for food, flavors and fragrances, and new neural stimulating approaches for neuroscience research.