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Taste Bud-Derived Stem Cells in Humans

NCT03366168 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 250

Last updated 2026-05-01

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background:

Stem cells are found in body tissues. They can regenerate into more of the same cells or become other types of cell. Researchers want to use stem cells from taste buds to try to make cells that secrete insulin. Taste buds are found mostly on the tip and sides of the tongue. Researchers also want to study if the number of taste buds and stem cells decrease as people age. They will remove small pieces of tongue tissue (about the size of a pen tip). The taste buds will grow back. It is hoped that studying taste bud stem cells can lead to new diabetes treatments.

Objectives:

To see if stem cells from taste buds can be isolated in humans.

Eligibility:

Healthy adults at least 18 years old

Design:

Participants will be screened with:

* Medical history
* Physical exam
* Blood and urine tests
* Tongue photograph and mouth inspection. Food coloring will be applied to the tongue.

Participants will have 1 study visit. They will not eat or drink anything 8 hours before.

* They will give blood and urine samples.
* They will have a tongue biopsy. Vital signs will be checked. The inside of the mouth will be examined. The tongue may be cleaned. The tongue will be numbed. Five small pieces of tissue will be taken with a small scissor. Any bleeding will be blotted with cotton and should stop in minutes.
* Participants will be monitored for about 30 minutes. They will get a snack or meal.
* They will be told how to take care of the tongue for the rest of the day.

Participants will be called a week later to see how the

Conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute on Aging (NIA)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Josephine M Egan, M.D. · National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
120 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-12-18
Primary Completion
2026-12-31
Completion
2026-12-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03366168 on ClinicalTrials.gov