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The Monell Chemical Senses Center is an independent scientific institute, established in 1968, dedicated to basic research on the senses of taste, smell, and chemesthesis (chemically-mediated skin senses). It is currently headed by Dr. Gary Beauchamp. The institute is operated as a non-profit and receives funding through grants, foundations and corporate sponsorships, most notably from the National Institute of Health, primarily through the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and the National Science Foundation. Monell is located in Philadelphia's University City neighborhood, near the campuses of University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. The building front is home to a noticeable golden sculpture of a giant face, with the eyes and forehead removed so it is merely a nose and a mouth. The sculpture, titled Face Fragment, was made by Arlene Love.

Monell is notable for being multidisciplinary. There are no departments, and Monell's scientists frequently collaborate with other scientists from other disciplines. Laboratories and offices generally are not segregated by discipline, and staff is imbued with the ideal of multidisciplinary interaction.

Many notable people have served on the Board of Directors at Monell. Among these are Dwight Riskey, former executive at Pepsi, Lewis Thomas, Alan Leshner, CEO of the AAAS, and Martin Meyerson, formerly of the University of Pennsylvania.

The sweet protein monellin was named after the institute, where it was first isolated in 1972.

Monell is also known for its research in the TMAU disease. The disease today can be diagnosed by Monell's Dr. George Preti.

Founding
Monell was founded by Dr. Morley R. Kare in 1968. He was assisted in this by the Ambrose Monell Foundation, founded by Ambrose Monell in Manhattan, New York.

In 1967, The Ambrose Monell Foundation made an initial pledge of $1 million to create the Monell Chemical Senses Center, with Dr. Kare as director. After consulting several universities, Dr. Kare, the directors of the Monell Foundation, and administrators at the University of Pennsylvania agreed that it would would be the ideal location for such a research institute.

1970's
The Center was first housed in the Lippincott Publications bindery building owned by the University at 25th and Locust Streets. In 1971, Monell moved into its current home at 3500 Market Street, initially occupying two of the building’s six floors. In 1978, the Monell Center separated from Penn to become an independent nonprofit research institute. The two institutions continue to maintain a close relationship.


 * Dr. James Morris and others isolated the sweet protein monellin.
 * Dr. Robert H. Cagan studied the binding of monellin to taste tissues.
 * Dr. Charles Wysocki studied the involvement of the vomeronasal system in the reproduction of mammals.
 * Dr. Michael Naim and Dr. Morley Kare studied the "effect of oral stimulation on the cephalic phase of pancreatic exocrine secretion in dogs"

1980's

 * Drs. Charles Wysocki and Gary K. Beauchamp discover that the ability to smell androstenone is genetic.
 * Dr. Joseph Brand and Dr. Andrew Spielman, with researchers from the Department of Biological Science at New York University, investigated bitter taste transduction mechanisms.
 * Dr. George Preti investigates how armpit odor influences the female menstrual cycle.

1990's

 * Dr. Diego Restrepo investigates the olfactory neurons of the channel catfish.
 * Dr. Kare continued to head the Center until he passed away in 1990. Dr. Gary Beauchamp took his place.
 * Drs. Michael Naim and Morley Kare, with Dr. Ikuo Ohara investigate the taste sensations of umami.
 * Drs. Lisa Brunet and Geoffrey H. Gold looked at the general anosmia caused by a disruption in the olfactory cyclic cation channel in mice.
 * Dr. Michael Tordoff led an investigation into polyethylene glycol-induced calcium intake and appetite.
 * Dr. Leonard Belluscio and Dr. Geoffrey H. Gold discover that mice deficient in G(olf) are anosmic.

2000's
The Center bought and expanded into neighboring facilities. In 2005, Monell opened a new wing of the center, a molecular biology lab and several offices. This makes Monell the biggest facility of its kind in the country.


 * Dr. Julie Mennella investigated the prenatal and postnatal taste learning patterns in infants.
 * Dr. Karen Teff investigated the effects of fructose on triglycerides in women.
 * Drs. Xia Li and Joseph Brand discover that the cat's inability to taste sweetness is due to a nonfunctioning obsolete taste receptor.

Current scientists
Current members of Monell include Dr. Gary K. Beauchamp, the current director. Others include:


 * Dr. Alexander Bachmanov
 * Dr. Joseph Brand
 * Dr. Paul Breslin
 * Dr. Pamela Dalton
 * Dr. Mark Friedman
 * Dr. Alan Gelperin
 * Dr. Johan Lundström‎
 * Dr. Julie Mennella
 * Dr. George Preti
 * Dr. Danielle R. Reed
 * Dr. Amos Smith
 * Dr. Karen Teff
 * Dr. Michael Tordoff
 * Dr. Charles Wysocki
 * Dr. Kunio Yamazaki

Notable former members
Notable alumni and deceased members of Monell include:


 * Dr. Lisa Brunet
 * Dr. Robert Cagan
 * Dr. Janet Desor
 * Dr. Gisela Epple
 * Dr. Avery Gilbert
 * Dr. Rachel Herz
 * Dr. Morley Kare
 * Dr. Owen Maller
 * Dr. Diego Restrepo
 * Dr. Judy Wellington