Investigating how vaping affects nicotine and its safety
Official title: Effects of vaping-induced oxidation on nicotine analogs e-cigarettes
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11119068 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how vaping changes the makeup of nicotine products, especially a new type called 6-methyl nicotine, to see how it affects the health and addiction risks for teens and young adults, helping to find ways to keep people safer from vaping's dangers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $265,239 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DA062849-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11119068 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adolescents and young adults who currently use or have used vaping products.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use vaping products or are not interested in nicotine-related research may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of vaping on the chemical composition of nicotine products, particularly focusing on a new form of nicotine called 6-methyl nicotine. It aims to understand how vaping alters the toxicity and addictive properties of these substances, especially among adolescents and young adults. By analyzing the aerosol produced from vaping devices, the study seeks to identify harmful compounds that may pose health risks. The findings could inform regulatory measures and public health strategies to mitigate the dangers associated with vaping.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer vaping products and better public health guidelines for young users.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated significant health risks associated with vaping, but this specific investigation into 6-methyl nicotine is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corteselli, Elizabeth Marie — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Corteselli, Elizabeth Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Flavor rules and youth smoking/vaping: what happens when flavors are restricted
A nationwide study will look at how banning or limiting flavored tobacco products affects how often adults and youth smoke or vape.
-
Vaping cessation for teens using Kick-Nic! and a CBT app
A Youth-focused program tests a CBT-based smartphone app and a virtual in-person CBT to help teens quit vaping.
-
Social media groups help teens quit vaping
A teen-focused program on Instagram direct message groups aims to help adolescents stop using e-cigarettes.
-
Parents Helping Parents: A Two-Arm Trial to Help Teens Quit Vaping
A two-arm trial tests a parent-supported approach to help youths aged 15–18 quit vaping.
-
How vaping prevention ads affect teens and young adults
A nationwide project looks at which vaping-prevention video ads work best for teens and young adults and how they might reduce vaping when shown online.
-
Motivation-based teen vaping profile to guide quitting help
Aims to understand why adolescents vape and use that knowledge to tailor stopping tools that fit teens.
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.