Less-harm nicotine options for people who keep smoking
Alternative Nicotine Delivery Systems as Potential Harm Reduction Tools for Persistent Cigarette Smokers
This project will see if e-cigarettes or oral nicotine pouches can help adult cigarette smokers who can't quit switch away from cigarettes and lower their exposure to harmful chemicals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311928 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to try either e-cigarettes or oral nicotine pouches instead of combustible cigarettes and be followed over time to see whether you switch. Study visits would include breath carbon monoxide tests and collection of blood or urine to measure carcinogen and toxicant biomarkers. Researchers will also ask about cravings, smoking behavior, and reasons that help or block switching, and they will track outcomes during active follow-up. The team will compare how often people fully switch, partially switch, or continue smoking and what factors predict those paths.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older who currently smoke cigarettes regularly and have had difficulty quitting with standard methods are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not currently smoke or who are already abstinent from cigarettes are unlikely to benefit from this harm-reduction approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer safer nicotine product options that reduce toxic chemical exposure and lower smoking-related health risks for smokers who haven't been able to quit.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work suggests about one-third of smokers may fully switch to e-cigarettes, while oral nicotine pouch data are more limited and relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Audrain-Mcgovern, Janet E — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Audrain-Mcgovern, Janet E
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.