How odorless additives in vaping and smokeless tobacco affect use from teens to adults
Beyond characterizing flavors: Effects of odorless constituents (sensory additives, solvents, and synthetic nicotine) on tobacco product use behaviors from adolescence to adulthood
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · YALE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11159812
This project looks at whether odorless ingredients in e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco change how teens and adults experience and continue using nicotine products.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | YALE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11159812 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will compare how odorless additives—like sweeteners, synthetic cooling agents, different solvent mixes (propylene glycol and glycerol), and synthetic nicotine—change taste, throat sensation, and appeal. They will gather responses from adolescents and adults using controlled sensory tests and behavior measures and may follow patterns of early intermittent use to see who keeps using nicotine later. Lab experiments with different product formulations will be combined with human behavioral data to identify which ingredients make products more reinforcing. The goal is to understand how exposure during adolescence might influence the move to persistent adult nicotine use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adolescents (about 12–20 years old) who experiment with or use e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco and adults (21+) who use these products or are willing to test product sensations.
Not a fit: People who do not use e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco, or whose nicotine use is limited to combustible cigarettes only, may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform rules that limit these odorless additives and help reduce youth progression to regular nicotine use.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows flavored products increase youth uptake, but the specific role of odorless additives and synthetic nicotine is less studied, so this work is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES
- YALE UNIVERSITY — NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ADDY, NII A — YALE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: ADDY, NII 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 below.