How different e‑cigarette nicotine levels change vaping and exposure in adult smokers
Impact of e-cigarette nicotine concentration on compensation, cigarette use, and biomarkers of exposure and harm among adults who smoke
This project compares high- versus low‑nicotine e‑liquids to see how they change puffing behavior, cigarette use, and chemical exposure in adults who smoke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career 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-11181548 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be an adult smoker enrolled at the University of Kansas Medical Center in a two‑phase crossover design with 48 participants. In Phase 1, participants complete two standardized 10‑puff vaping bouts followed by a 60‑minute ad libitum vaping session using two e‑liquids that differ only in nicotine concentration (5% vs 1.8%). The study measures vaping patterns, any changes in cigarette consumption, and biomarkers of exposure such as nicotine metabolites, carbon monoxide, and tobacco‑specific nitrosamines. The results are intended to inform FDA product standards and to help maximize public health benefit while limiting potential harms of high‑nicotine e‑liquids.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 or older who currently smoke cigarettes and are willing to try e‑cigarette use in supervised sessions are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not smoke, are under 21, or are unwilling to use e‑cigarettes would not be appropriate and are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help regulators set nicotine limits in e‑liquids to reduce harmful exposure and guide safer options for smokers who use e‑cigarettes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has measured puffing and biomarkers in e‑cigarette users, but direct comparisons of high‑nicotine salt versus lower‑nicotine e‑liquids for compensation and toxicant exposure in adult smokers are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leavens, Eleanor Ladd Schneider — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Leavens, Eleanor Ladd Schneider
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.