Reducing harm from smoking using electronic cigarettes
Official title: Cigarette Harm Reduction with Scheduled Electronic Cigarette Use
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-9752505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2021 |
| Award (this year) | $790,521 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DA045519-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-9752505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are daily cigarette smokers who are familiar with using electronic cigarettes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not smoke or are not interested in using electronic cigarettes may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Benowitz, Neal L — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Benowitz, Neal L
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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.