About AbScent
AbScent is a UK charity founded by Chrissi Kelly, inspired by her personal journey of recovery from smell loss.
Chrissi lost her sense of smell following a virus in 2012. Isolated by her experience and discouraged by the lack of information and support, Chrissi sought out answers. Her journey has included residential courses in smell disorders, cooperation in international research projects, and coauthorship of over 20 research papers. She speaks at clinical conferences, has contributed to a best-selling book on the management of Long Covid.
AbScent has become an internationally known source for people affected by smell disorders, and receives referrals from all over the world, including the NHS and the Mayo Clinic.
Supported by a distinguished advisory board, we make a point of only sharing strategies and information based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence.
AbScent is grateful to the generosity of our members, customers and supporters who make our work possible.
Founder Chrissi Kelly: AbScent is the culmination of years of research and learning through lived experience.
Our team
Our Trustee Board is a group of people with a common purpose, all of whom give their time for free.
Chrissi Kelly
Founder and Chair of Trustees
Miriam Block
Founding trustee
Simon Gane FRCS (ORL-HNS)
Consultant Rhinologist and ENT Surgeon at the Royal National ENT Hospital.
Dr Jane K Parker
Founder and Director of The Flavour Centre, University of Reading.
Our people
Our Trustees provide support and guidance to our small team of dedicated staff.
Esther Ardagh-Ptolomey
Executive Director
Ella Doyle
Online Community Executive
Lou Devine
Digital Communications Officer
Our advisory board
We are fortunate to have the support of some of the most important names in olfactory research and allied fields:
Duika Burges Watson, PhD, Founder, Altered Eating Network, UK
Professor Claire Hopkins, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, London and King’s College, London, UK and British Rhinological Society
Professor Thomas Hummel, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, GE
Johan Lundstrom, PhD, Senior researcher, Karolinska Institute, Dept of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, SE, and Associate Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Joel Mainland, PhD, Associate Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Robert Pellegrino, PhD, University of Tennessee, Department of Food Science & Technology, Knoxville, TN, USA
Nancy Rawson, PhD, Associate Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Professor Barry Smith, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK
