Tracking e-cigarette use in real time with wearable sensors
Official title: Measuring E-cigarette Use in Real Time via Wearable Sensor
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11058061 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how young people use e-cigarettes by using special sensors to track their habits in real time, so we can better understand their usage and help create better ways to prevent and stop e-cigarette use among youth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $254,810 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DA060422-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11058061 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young individuals, particularly high school and middle school students, who are current e-cigarette users.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use e-cigarettes or are outside the age range of the targeted youth population may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to understand how young people use e-cigarettes by employing wearable sensors that can accurately measure their usage patterns in real time. By utilizing advanced technology, the study seeks to overcome the limitations of self-reported surveys, which can be biased or inaccurate. The goal is to gather precise data on the frequency and intensity of e-cigarette use among youth, which will help in developing effective prevention and cessation strategies. This approach focuses on a vulnerable population that is at risk of developing serious health issues related to e-cigarette use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing and reducing e-cigarette use among young people, ultimately enhancing public health.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on e-cigarette use, this approach using wearable sensors for real-time tracking is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Eunhee — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Park, Eunhee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Respiratory effects of metal and aldehyde exposure from e-cigarette use in young adults
Young adults who use e-cigarettes may inhale metals and aldehydes that could affect their breathing and cause inflammation.
-
Long-term effects of vaping on heart and lung health
A long-term study will follow people who vape and non-vapers to see how vaping might influence heart and lung health over three years.
-
Using Smart Machines to Understand How People Talk About Anti-E-Cigarette Campaigns on Social Media
Researchers are testing new computer methods to see how people on Twitter and TikTok react to anti-vaping messages and the voices that oppose them.
-
How social media and cultural background shape e-cigarette use in Mexican American college students
This project looks at whether exposure to e-cigarette content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube and a student's cultural background relate to vaping among Mexican American college students.
-
E-cigarette use and emphysema risk in young adults (VapeScan)
A study to understand whether vaping or traditional cigarettes cause early lung damage in young adults.
-
How vaping affects teens' brains and thinking
This project looks at whether using e-cigarettes (vaping) changes brain development and thinking skills in children and teenagers.
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.