NCT05855369RecruitingPhase 2/3
Study of Chemosensory Enhancement Through Neuromodulation Training (SCENT for Long COVID)
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Smell Training and Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation in the Treatment of COVID-related Persistent Smell Loss
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 2 Apr 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Persistent smell loss that can include diminished or distorted smell function is a common symptom of long COVID syndrome. There are limited treatment options for long COVID-related smell loss. This study aims to determine the efficacy of two at-home treatments, smell training and non-invasive trigeminal nerve stimulation. This study requires participants to conduct daily at-home treatment sessions, attend three in-person study visits at the MUSC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and complete electronic questionnaires over the 12-week trial, and again at the six-month timepoint. Participants in this trial may benefit directly with an improvement in sense of smell. However, participation may also help society more generally, as this study will provide new information about long COVID-related smell loss and its treatment.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Phase (registry)
- Phase 2/3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 145 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 8 May 2023
- Start date
- 2 Oct 2023
- Primary completion date
- 31 May 2028
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Diseases
- Long COVID and ME/CFS
- NCT number
- NCT05855369
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional · Phase 2/3
- Planned participants: 145
- From 2 Oct 2023 to the primary completion date, 31 May 2028
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- oral/nasal steroids or other intranasal medications within the last month
- immunomodulatory medications
Other illness
- history of head injury (e.g. sport, accident, combat blast)
- sinonasal condition (e.g. upper respiratory infection, rhinosinusitis, polyps)
- neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorder, narcolepsy)
- serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar, or other psychotic disorder)
Other
- suicidal ideation within the last month
- current (≤6 months) heavy cigarette smoker (heavy defined as ≥ 10 pack-years)
- pregnant or trying to become pregnant
Who the study is looking for
- treatment-seeking for COVID-related persistent SL (anosmia, hyposmia, phantosmia or parosmia)
- at least 1-month from SARS-coV-2 PCR-positive and/or rapid home-positive tests
- normal sense of smell prior to COVID
- naïve to both smell training (ST) and trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS)
- able to comprehend English and provide informed consent
Age in the registry: 18 years to 65 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical University of South Carolina Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Charleston | United States | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.