How childhood adversity shapes brain responses during nicotine withdrawal
Official title: Cumulative Effect of ACEs on the Neurocircuitry of Drug Withdrawal
Funded at Osu Center for Health Sciences · NIH-11536277 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how difficult childhood experiences affect brain and craving during nicotine withdrawal in adults who use ENDS (vaping).
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Osu Center for Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tulsa, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2016 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $259,645 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM109097-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11536277 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 18-50 who use ENDS and have varied histories of childhood adversity (ACEs).
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without ENDS use or with no history of ACEs may have less relevance to the study aims.
What this research studies
Adults aged 18-50 who vape will complete a two-week study to see how early-life adversity relates to brain activity during withdrawal. They will use devices to monitor nicotine intake, have two MRI sessions (one after regular use and one after 24 hours without nicotine), and report cravings and behavior while completing attention and cue tasks. The study also collects behavioral scores, craving ratings, and blood markers to connect brain signals with withdrawal experiences. The goal is to understand if and how childhood trauma shapes brain circuits involved in self-control and bodily awareness during quitting efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help tailor quitting approaches for people with high ACEs by targeting specific brain processes and cravings.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked ACEs to addiction risk and brain function, but this study uniquely examines nicotine withdrawal and specific brain regions.
Where this research is happening
-
Osu Center for Health Sciences
Tulsa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Avery, Jason a. — Osu Center for Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Avery, Jason a.
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.