Ohio State Tobacco Center: making nicotine products less addictive and less appealing
Official title: The Ohio State University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science (OSU-TCORS)
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11494125 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This center looks for ways regulators can make nicotine products like e-cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches less addictive and less appealing to people, especially young adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 14, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $83,260 |
| NIH project number | 3U54CA287392-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11494125 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who currently use or have used cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or oral nicotine products, or who are at risk of starting these products, may be eligible for specific center studies.
✕Less likely to help
People with no history or risk of tobacco or nicotine use, or those unable to take part in in-person studies near Columbus, Ohio, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
They study how nicotine concentration, chemical form (including new isomers), product design, and marketing affect whether people start and continue using tobacco products. Researchers combine lab chemistry, behavioral experiments, population surveys, and policy analysis to see which product features increase addiction and appeal. The team uses the tobacco industry's own consumer-response models to identify the most influential 'levers' the FDA could change. Findings are intended to inform product standards and marketing rules to protect public health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could support FDA rules that lower addiction risk and reduce smoking and vaping uptake across the population.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show lowering nicotine and limiting marketing can reduce tobacco use, but newer product types like nicotine isomers and oral pouches are less studied and represent newer research areas.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wagener, Theodore Lee — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Wagener, Theodore Lee
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.