Update from SCI-LAB regarding COVID-19

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We take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and we have changed our procedures and our operation to secure both our and our guest’s safety. A statement can be found here.

We have joined a global consortium of investigators (GCCR) to study COVID-19’s (and other respiratory illnesses) effect on the senses of smell and taste. You can find more information and if you wish, you can also participate in the research at  https://gcchemosensr.org.

We are also involved in a new odor training site for people who have lost their sense of smell due to COVID-19. You can find information on smell-loss and on how training can help to recover it at www.lukttraning.se (in Swedish).

New website on Smell Training and loss of smell due to COVID-19!

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We have in collaboration with our friends and colleagues at the Perceptual Neuroscience Lab (Karolinska Institutet) developed a new website with information about smell-loss associated with COVID-19 and with smell training to relieve smell loss.

 

Here, you can find the current understanding of how the coronavirus affect the sense and perception of smells. You can also find information on how you can train your sense of smell to hopefully recover or maintain your olfactory perception.

 

The site is in Swedish and can be found here: https://www.lukttraning.se/

Update from SCI-LAB regarding the COVID-19 pandemic

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The ongoing pandemic has impacted our work and our lives in general. Since March 12, when the severe effects of COVID-19 became clear, we have been working remotely. While the situation is still unfolding in Sweden, daily life is already transformed for a majority of its inhabitants.

 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and current recommendations to mitigate it, we have shifted our research focus, prioritizing projects that can be completed remotely. Two ambitious experiments that were planned for the spring of 2020 have been postponed. We are conducting online surveys, some of which seek to understand the psychological impact of the COVID-19 and effective communication to promote public health. We are analyzing neuroimaging datasets to understand how the sense of smell interacts with central brain networks. We are finalizing dissertations, manuscripts, revisions, course papers and review assignments. We are introducing new ways to stay in touch and retain our productivity. On March 23, we had our first completely online lab meeting.

 

The SCI-LAB is a heterogeneous group, with diverse research interests and roles. In times like these, it is clear that our diversity is a strength. We are transitioning rather smoothly to research approaches that can be conducted remotely, such as online surveys, since they are already part of our research methodology. Since some of our lab members are located in Malmö, we are experienced in using conference calls for our lab meetings. Most importantly, we support and help each other to adapt to this new situation by sharing our knowledge. Thus, while the pandemic has changed how we conduct our work, it nevertheless continues uninterrupted. We send our best wishes to our colleagues, friends and those who take part in our research activities, and we are looking forward to continuing to share our research updates with you in the coming months.

 

On behalf of the SCI-LAB,

Jonas Olofsson