How lowering nicotine in smoked tobacco could change smoking and health
Assessing the real-world impact of a low nicotine product standard for smoked tobacco in New Zealand
This project will follow adults who smoke daily to learn how a rule that cuts nicotine in cigarettes affects their smoking, exposure to smoke, and quit attempts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180087 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would join a group of about 1,500 adults who smoke daily or nearly daily and be followed for roughly 3.5 years, spanning before and after a low-nicotine policy starts. I would complete online surveys, provide biological samples for smoke-exposure markers, have simple physiological checks, and may share medical records and do interviews. The team will combine these measures to track changes in cigarettes per day, dependence, toxin exposure, quit attempts, and overall well-being. The goal is to understand real-life effects when nicotine levels in smoked tobacco are reduced.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21 and older) who smoke daily or nearly daily and are willing to complete surveys, provide biosamples, and allow access to health records are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not smoke, who only smoke very occasionally, are under age 21, or are unwilling to provide samples or follow-up data are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show whether lowering nicotine in smoked tobacco leads to less smoking, lower exposure to harmful smoke, and more people quitting, informing policies that protect health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous randomized trials of very low nicotine cigarettes have shown reduced smoking, lower biomarkers of exposure, and increased quit attempts, but population-level real-world effects are less well tested.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Denlinger-Apte, Rachel — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Denlinger-Apte, Rachel
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.