Reducing harm from smoking using electronic cigarettes

Cigarette Harm Reduction with Scheduled Electronic Cigarette Use

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-9752505

This study is looking at whether using electronic cigarettes can be a safer option for people who smoke traditional cigarettes, by comparing the health effects and exposure to harmful substances between the two.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-9752505 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how electronic cigarettes (EC) can help reduce the harm caused by traditional tobacco smoking. Participants will be asked to use a standardized electronic cigarette and compare their nicotine and toxicant exposure to those who continue smoking traditional cigarettes. The study will involve a controlled environment where participants will alternate between using electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes to assess health impacts. The goal is to understand if using electronic cigarettes can lead to lower health risks compared to continued tobacco use.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are daily cigarette smokers who are familiar with using electronic cigarettes.

Not a fit: Patients who do not smoke or are not interested in using electronic cigarettes may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide evidence that electronic cigarettes are a safer alternative to traditional smoking, potentially leading to better health outcomes for smokers.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results regarding the use of electronic cigarettes for harm reduction, but this specific approach is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.