Modeling how nicotine addiction develops in youth and its future impact
Official title: Modeling the Process of Nicotine Addiction among Youths and Young Adults and Its Potential Future Consequences
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11421857 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program at the University of Michigan plans to use a computer model to understand how teens and young adults become addicted to nicotine and what might happen in the future under different regulations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $425,244 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA229974-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421857 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; the study uses a model of adolescent and young adult behavior rather than recruiting participants.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
This project builds a novel computer model that combines environmental, social, and biological factors to simulate how adolescents and young adults might start or quit using nicotine. The model will help explore how different nicotine product mixes and regulatory actions could influence addiction pathways and short-term outcomes. It will also project long-term consequences like deaths and life-years lost due to tobacco and nicotine dependence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform policies to reduce teen nicotine addiction and its long-term health harms.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has used agent-based modeling to study addiction, with mixed but informative results guiding policy discussions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mendez Emilien, David — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Mendez Emilien, David
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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.