E-cigarette use and emphysema risk in young adults (VapeScan)
Official title: E-cigarette use and emphysema development: The VapeScan Study
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11298469 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand whether vaping or traditional cigarettes cause early lung damage in young adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $821,294 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL179303-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11298469 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young adults aged 18–50 who are e-cigarette users, cigarette users, or non-users and are willing to undergo lung imaging and functional tests.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the 18–50 age range or those not using or not having a history of tobacco/nicotine products may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will build on a well-characterized group of 200 young adults who use e-cigarettes or cigarettes by adding deep lung imaging and functional tests. Researchers will compare lung structure and function between e-cig users, cigarette users, and non-users to see who shows early signs of emphysema. The study will look at mechanisms behind any observed damage and aim to clarify whether vaping is a safer alternative for the lungs. By focusing on people aged 18–50, it seeks to reveal effects that could inform public health guidance for teens and young adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could help doctors advise young people on the lung risks of vaping versus smoking.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary results from existing cohorts suggest e-cigarette use may be linked to early lung changes, but more comprehensive, age-focused analyses are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oelsner, Elizabeth — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Oelsner, Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Precision phenotyping of emphysema in the elderly: a study in diverse adults
Researchers will look at CT scans and lung tests in older adults to understand different forms of emphysema and how they relate to health outcomes.
-
Lithium as a potential disease-modifying treatment for emphysema using a precision approach
A low-dose lithium approach is being studied to slow or modify emphysema in smokers who have COPD.
-
Respiratory effects of metal and aldehyde exposure from e-cigarette use in young adults
Young adults who use e-cigarettes may inhale metals and aldehydes that could affect their breathing and cause inflammation.
-
Imaging and multi-omics to find subtypes of emphysema in COPD
This project looks for molecular subtypes of emphysema in COPD by combining imaging with blood and tissue data to improve understanding and treatment options.
-
Long-term effects of vaping on heart and lung health
A long-term study will follow people who vape and non-vapers to see how vaping might influence heart and lung health over three years.
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Using Smart Machines to Understand How People Talk About Anti-E-Cigarette Campaigns on Social Media
Researchers are testing new computer methods to see how people on Twitter and TikTok react to anti-vaping messages and the voices that oppose them.
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.