Penn State tobacco product toxicity and addiction research hub
Official title: Penn State TCORS: Tobacco Product Composition Effects on Toxicity and Addiction
Funded at Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr · NIH-11394435 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A center-based effort to understand how tobacco product aerosols and oxidants affect health and addiction, with the goal of guiding safer regulations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,890,290 |
| NIH project number | 5U54DA058271-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394435 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who use or are exposed to tobacco products, including users of e-cigarettes, little cigars, and nicotine pouches.
✕Less likely to help
Non-users or individuals not exposed to tobacco products are unlikely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project brings together experienced and newer tobacco researchers to study how different tobacco products, their aerosols, and oxidants impact toxicity and addiction. It aims to develop new methods that could be used beyond the Penn State program to inform regulatory actions. The work includes examining products such as e-cigarettes, little cigars, and nicotine pouches, and focuses on the biological effects in people who use tobacco.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help regulators reduce harm from tobacco products and inform safer product design and nicotine policies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on oxidants and tobacco product design has informed regulatory considerations and supports the potential value of this line of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
Hershey, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Muscat, Joshua E — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Muscat, Joshua E
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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.