Remote, young adult-led help to quit vaping and prevent tobacco use among teens
Official title: Remote, Young Adult Lay-Counselor Delivered Behavioral and Digital Intervention for Youth to Promote Vaping Cessation and Prevent Escalation of Tobacco Use
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11391375 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A youth-friendly behavioral and digital program led by remote lay counselors aims to help high school students quit vaping and prevent them from starting or escalating tobacco use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,537,007 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA287721-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391375 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Teens in high school, particularly around age 16, who vape or are at risk of starting or escalating tobacco use.
✕Less likely to help
Teens who do not vape or are not at risk may not directly benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
This project teams up with adolescents who vape or are at risk of starting to use nicotine to deliver a behavioral and digital intervention via remote counselors. It will recruit teens in or around high school settings and use online or phone-based support to promote quitting vaping and prevent progression to combustible tobacco. The approach combines lay counselor guidance with digital tools to meet teens where they are, using accessible language and practical strategies. If successful, it could offer a scalable, teen-centered option to reduce nicotine addiction and its health risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, teens could quit vaping and avoid moving on to more harmful tobacco products.
How similar studies have gone: Other youth-focused, digitally delivered behavioral interventions have shown promise, but this exact lay-counselor model for vaping cessation is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Evins, a Eden — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Evins, a Eden
Related research
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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.