An antidote to treat nicotine poisoning in children
Official title: An Enzyme-Based Antidote for Acute Nicotine Toxicity
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-10931732 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a special antidote to help kids who accidentally swallow liquid nicotine from e-cigarettes, aiming to quickly make them safe and healthy again.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $230,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DA059702-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931732 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under the age of 5 who may be at risk of accidental nicotine ingestion.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not children or those who have not been exposed to nicotine will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an enzyme-based antidote specifically designed to counteract acute nicotine toxicity, particularly in children who may accidentally ingest liquid nicotine from e-cigarettes. The project aims to address the increasing incidents of nicotine poisoning, which can be life-threatening, by creating a treatment that can rapidly neutralize nicotine in the body. The approach involves innovative biochemical methods to enhance safety and efficacy in emergency situations. By targeting the pediatric population, the research seeks to provide a solution to a growing public health concern.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of severe outcomes from nicotine poisoning in children, potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been limited research on specific antidotes for nicotine toxicity, the approach of developing enzyme-based treatments is innovative and has not been widely tested in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Janda, Kim — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Janda, Kim
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.