How proposed tobacco rules could change tobacco use and product switching in Appalachian Kentucky
AppalTRuST Project 3: Impact of proposed tobacco product rules in Appalachia on consumption and product switching with the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace
Researchers will use a simulated shopping marketplace to see how people in Appalachian Kentucky might change their tobacco purchases and switch between products under proposed FDA rules.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163568 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to take part in experiments that mimic a real marketplace where different tobacco products, prices, nicotine levels, and flavor options are available. Using behavioral economic tools such as the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, researchers will record what you choose to buy and whether you switch from combusted cigarettes to other products when rules change. The work focuses on rural Appalachian Kentucky because tobacco use patterns there differ from urban areas and may respond differently to regulations. Results will be used to predict how proposed FDA actions like lowering nicotine in cigarettes or restricting flavors could alter consumption and product switching.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults living in Appalachian Kentucky who currently use cigarettes or other tobacco products and can complete marketplace experiments.
Not a fit: People who do not use tobacco, live outside the Appalachian region, or cannot complete the experimental tasks are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could help shape tobacco rules that reduce smoking and related health harms in Appalachian communities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous behavioral-economics and Experimental Tobacco Marketplace studies have shown changes in hypothetical purchasing and switching, though applying simulated results to real-world population effects remains an active area of research.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koffarnus, Mikhail Nikolaas — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Koffarnus, Mikhail Nikolaas
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.