Digital craving-regulation training to help adults quit smoking
Official title: Efficacy and Mechanisms of Web-Based Regulation of Craving Training for Smoking Cessation
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11399806 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A brief, online program teaches adults how to manage cigarette craving to improve quitting with or without medication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $774,386 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA060193-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399806 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ who smoke and are seeking to quit, with active follow-up possible.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not seeking to quit or unable to participate in digital training may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a digital training program that helps adults regulate craving as part of a smoking-cessation plan. Participants will use short, online sessions that pair craving cues with skills like reframing thoughts or mindful acceptance. The study compares two versions of the training, each designed to strengthen control over urges while also allowing pharmacological aids if used. If successful, this approach could be a scalable option to support quitting for people who smoke. The research will track cravings, quit attempts, and overall smoking behavior over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, the program could offer a scalable, digital tool to boost quitting efforts for smokers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research supports the potential of targeted craving-regulation strategies when paired with pharmacotherapy, but more work is needed to confirm efficacy in digital formats.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kober, Hedy — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Kober, Hedy
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social stress and smoking: why disadvantaged young adults struggle to quit
This grant looks at how daily social stress affects if and when disadvantaged young adults who smoke can quit and stay quit.
-
I-STOP: a mobile health program to help people with HIV quit smoking
A smartphone-based program designed to help people with HIV quit smoking in a sustainable, affordable way.
-
Smoking cessation help for people with HIV in South Africa
A program is being tested to help people living with HIV in South Africa quit smoking in ways that fit low-resource clinics and show good value.
-
Mobile tools to understand how sleep affects quitting smoking
This project uses a smartphone to track sleep and smoking in lower-income adults trying to quit to find how sleep patterns relate to staying smoke-free.
-
Integrated approach to lung screening and quitting for African Americans
A multi-level program aims to boost LDCT lung cancer screening uptake and help African American smokers quit, with support from a comprehensive community-focused plan.
-
Peer-led smoking-cessation program for public housing residents
A peer-led program with eight group sessions plus nicotine replacement therapy is tested on adults living in public housing to help them quit smoking.
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.