How E-Cigarette Flavors Affect Men and Women Who Smoke

Sex Differences in E-Cigarette Flavor Sensory Perception As It Relates to Appeal and Reinforcing Efficacy Among Adult Smokers

NIH-funded research Yale University · NIH-11124912

This project looks at how different e-cigarette flavors, like sweet or cooling, are experienced by adult male and female smokers and how these flavors might influence their desire to use e-cigarettes.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project IDNIH-11124912 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We know that women who smoke might be more sensitive to non-nicotine sensations, which could make it harder for them to quit or respond to nicotine replacement. This project explores how adult men and women who smoke perceive popular e-cigarette flavors, such as sweet and cooling, and how these perceptions affect how appealing and reinforcing e-cigarettes become. We will offer different e-cigarette flavors (sweet, cooling, and unflavored) with a moderate nicotine level, both alone and with or without nicotine, to understand their impact. Our goal is to see if women have a stronger response to these flavors compared to men, which could help explain differences in e-cigarette use.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of research would be adult male and female cigarette smokers, aged 21 and older.

Not a fit: Individuals who do not smoke or use e-cigarettes, or those under 21, would not directly benefit from participating in this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Understanding how e-cigarette flavors affect men and women differently could lead to more effective strategies for helping people quit smoking or reduce e-cigarette use.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has indicated sex differences in sensitivity to non-nicotine cues and e-cigarette flavor preferences, suggesting this approach builds on existing findings.

Where this research is happening

New Haven, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.