Cardiac safety of flavored e-cigarette aerosols in adults
Official title: Systematic identification of cardiotoxic e-cigarette flavorants
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11541950 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pharmacist or clinician would test how inhaling flavored e-cigarette aerosols affects heart rhythm in adults to see if flavors raise the risk of heart problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | April 22, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $48,480 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL163818-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11541950 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who use or may use flavored e-cigarettes and have or be at risk for heart rhythm issues.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not use e-cigarettes or have no concern about heart rhythm may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies how flavor chemicals in e-cigarette aerosols, together with nicotine, can alter heart electrical activity in adults. Researchers expose cardiomyocytes and use mouse models to observe changes in heart rhythm markers like the QT interval and arrhythmias after flavored aerosol exposure. The goal is to map which flavorants might contribute to adverse cardiac effects and how heating of the liquids influences these risks. Results could guide safer product formulations and inform clinicians about potential risks for patients who use e-cigarettes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better understanding of which flavors are safer for people with heart conditions and influence regulatory decisions to reduce cardiac risk.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier animal data show flavorants can affect heart rhythm; this study extends those findings to understand which flavors pose risks in adults.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carll, Alex Perrow — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Carll, Alex Perrow
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.