Investigating how e-cigarette use affects smoking behavior
Official title: Using Causal Machine Learning Methods to Inform Tobacco Regulatory Science
Funded at New York University · NIH-11082227 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using e-cigarettes might affect whether people start smoking regular cigarettes, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how different factors like age and gender play a role in this relationship.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $187,877 |
| NIH project number | 5K01DA058408-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11082227 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals aged 21 and older who use e-cigarettes or combustible cigarettes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use tobacco products or e-cigarettes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to clarify the relationship between e-cigarette (EC) use and subsequent combustible cigarette (CC) smoking behaviors. By employing causal machine learning methods, the study will analyze complex data to understand how various factors, such as age and gender, influence the effects of EC use on smoking habits. The goal is to identify specific characteristics that may modify these effects, which could help inform tobacco regulation and address health disparities. The findings could provide critical insights for policymakers regarding the impact of e-cigarettes on smoking behaviors across different populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective tobacco regulations that reduce smoking rates and improve public health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown mixed results regarding the impact of e-cigarettes on smoking behaviors, indicating that this area is still being explored and holds potential for new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Shu — New York University
- Study coordinator: Xu, Shu
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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.