Fourth-generation e-cigarettes to help African American smokers quit or reduce harm
4th Generation e-cigarettes in African American Smokers: Reducing Harm and Quitting Combustible Cigarettes in Dual Users
This project compares newer pod-style e-cigarettes, with and without the quit medicine varenicline, to help African American adults who smoke cigarettes—especially those who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes—quit or reduce harm.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323453 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will recruit African American adults who smoke combustible cigarettes, including people who currently use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Participants will be randomized to use fourth-generation nicotine-salt pod e-cigarettes and some dual users will be offered the stop-smoking medicine varenicline to support switching. The team will follow participants over time, collect biological markers of tobacco exposure (including metabolites like NNAL), and track cigarette use, side effects, and dependence. The goal is to see whether complete switching to pod e-cigarettes, with medication support when needed, lowers harmful exposure and leads to sustained quitting.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are African American adults (21+) who currently smoke combustible cigarettes, including people who both smoke and use e-cigarettes (dual users).
Not a fit: People who do not smoke, are under 21, pregnant, or unwilling to try e-cigarettes or medication like varenicline are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could offer a safer quitting option and targeted help for African American smokers who face high tobacco-related harm.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials show e-cigarettes can help smokers who fully switch, and an open-label study suggested varenicline could help dual users, but a randomized trial focused on nicotine-salt pod systems in African American dual users is novel.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nollen, Nicole L — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Nollen, Nicole L
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 below.