Actify: a mobile tool to help people quit smoking by managing mood
Official title: Actify! An mHealth mood management tool to improve population-level smoking cessation
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11400405 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile app called Actify! helps people quit smoking by addressing depressive mood as part of the quit plan.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $874,044 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DA062241-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400405 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who smoke and have depressive symptoms who are seeking to quit using a mobile app-based program.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not use mobile apps or whose depressive symptoms are not a barrier to cessation may derive little additional benefit.
What this research studies
Actify! is an app-based program designed to help people who smoke manage depressive symptoms while following a standard cessation plan. The study will test whether combining Behavioral Activation with cessation support in an accessible mobile app improves quit rates. It builds on a prior pilot trial and aims to recruit enough participants to determine effectiveness in a real-world setting. If successful, Actify! could offer a scalable way to support quitting for those whose mood makes quitting harder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Actify! could increase quit rates and reduce depressive symptoms during cessation for many smokers.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary results showed higher satisfaction and somewhat higher abstinence with Actify! compared to an existing app in a pilot trial.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heffner, Jaimee — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Heffner, Jaimee
Related research
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Integrated approach to lung screening and quitting for African Americans
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Peer-led smoking-cessation program for public housing residents
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.