Cancer risk and quitting in real life: how our surroundings shape smoking behavior
Official title: Cancer Prevention through Geospatial and Temporal Examination of Environmental Effects on Smoking and Quitting
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11450335 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how everyday surroundings and mobile-phone data influence cravings and quitting smoking to reduce cancer risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $650,418 |
| NIH project number | 2R01CA229305-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450335 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who smoke and are trying to quit or reduce smoking.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not smoke or are not attempting to quit may not benefit.
What this research studies
We combine real-world data from phones, location, and daily experiences to understand how environmental factors affect cigarette cravings, smoking, and the success of quit attempts. The study builds on prior work by analyzing many data sources across time and space, then mapping them to each day to see patterns. The goal is to identify environmental triggers and opportunities for interventions that help people quit smoking and lower cancer risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide personalized strategies to reduce cravings and support quitting in real-life environments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed links between environment and craving; expanding to more factors could provide stronger, actionable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Falk, Emily — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Falk, Emily
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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.