A new expert-led webinar will explore how the chemical senses intersect with brain function, metabolism, and disease, highlighting the growing clinical relevance of smell and taste research.
Paule V. Joseph will headline the session, “When Chemistry Meets the Brain: Smell, Taste, and Human Health,” taking place on Wednesday June 10, 2026 (13:00–14:00, via Zoom). The talk will examine how olfactory and gustatory signals are processed by the brain and what disruptions in these systems can reveal about broader physiological and neurological health.
Drawing on clinical research in chemosensory science, Joseph will connect sensory perception to key biological domains including brain function, metabolism, aging, and disease progression. A central focus will be why smell and taste perception vary across individuals, and how environmental exposures, illness, and physiological change can alter these systems over time.
The webinar will also address a growing area of scientific and medical interest: the role of sensory change as an early indicator of disease. According to the session outline, shifts in smell and taste can precede more widely recognized symptoms, positioning chemosensory testing as a potential tool in early detection frameworks.
Beyond clinical implications, the discussion will highlight the importance of sensory biology for flavor science and product development, particularly as global populations become more diverse in sensory perception and exposure profiles.
The session is expected to attract researchers and industry professionals working across neuroscience, nutrition, flavor science and health-related innovation.
Registration details and further information are available here: https://www.bsf.org.uk/diary/eventdetail/309/-/webinar-with-paule-valerie-joseph-when-chemistry-meets-the-brain-smell-taste-and-human-health
