How nicotine types, flavors, and additives change tobacco use and addiction
Yale Center for the Study of Tobacco Product Use and Addiction (YCSTP)
Looking at how different kinds of nicotine and flavor ingredients affect how teens and adults start and keep using tobacco products.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159811 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This Yale center brings together scientists, clinicians, and behavioral researchers to test how nicotine forms (tobacco-derived, synthetic, freebase, and salts) and additives that cool or sweeten products change appeal and addiction. They compare products delivered by smoking, vaping, and oral routes using lab tests, behavioral experiments, animal models, and human participant studies. Work includes testing cooling agents like menthol and odorless coolants, sweeteners and humectants, and different nicotine stereoisomers to see effects on initiation and dependence. Findings aim to guide FDA rules on nicotine levels and flavors and to clarify whether changing ingredients could help reduce harm.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are teens and adults who use or are at risk of using tobacco or vaping products, including current smokers and e-cigarette users.
Not a fit: People without any exposure or interest in tobacco products, or those seeking immediate quit treatment unrelated to the study, are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide FDA rules to make tobacco products less appealing and reduce youth initiation and addiction.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows flavors and nicotine salts can increase appeal and dependence, but this center combines multiple ingredient types and delivery methods to answer unresolved questions.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra
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.