Charcoal-filtered cigarettes and real-world use: how design and perceptions affect smoking and exposures
Official title: A randomized trial of charcoal-filtered cigarettes on product perceptions, smoking behaviors, and toxicant exposure
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11393185 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant tests whether charcoal-filtered cigarettes change how people smoke, what they think about the product, and their exposure to harmful substances.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 14, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $664,580 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA296976-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393185 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who currently smoke and may be considering lighter or alternative-filtered cigarettes could participate.
✕Less likely to help
Non-smokers or individuals not using cigarettes would not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
The study focuses on adult smokers to understand if switching to charcoal-filtered cigarettes changes their smoking behavior and toxicant exposure in real life, not just in the lab. Researchers will compare charcoal-filtered options to traditional filters, considering how filter design and consumer perceptions influence decisions and usage. The project will collect data from participants over time to observe actual smoking patterns and biomarker changes, aiming to reflect everyday experiences rather than controlled laboratory conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could clarify whether charcoal filters reduce real-world toxicant exposure and inform safer product design and consumer guidance.
How similar studies have gone: Past laboratory studies suggested potential reductions in some toxicants, but real-world evidence is needed to confirm benefits.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mercincavage, Melissa — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Mercincavage, Melissa
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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.