UNC Center to Reduce Harm from Flavored Tobacco and Vaping

UNC Center of Tobacco Regulatory Science

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11362771

This center develops and compares public messages and policy ideas to help adults and young people avoid menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars, and e-cigarettes.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11362771 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

At UNC, researchers will develop and compare messages designed to discourage use of flavored tobacco and vaping products. They will study how sales restrictions on menthol and other flavored products affect use and under what conditions those restrictions work best. The work uses surveys, message experiments, policy and population analyses, and community studies. The center also trains early-career researchers and funds pilot projects to help inform FDA and local policymakers.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants include adults and young people who use or are at risk of using flavored tobacco products or e-cigarettes, plus community members affected by tobacco sales policies.

Not a fit: People who do not use tobacco or e-cigarettes and whose care is unrelated to tobacco exposure are unlikely to benefit directly.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reduce youth vaping and menthol cigarette use, lowering tobacco-related illness and health disparities.

How similar studies have performed: Past public-health campaigns and some local flavor bans have lowered youth vaping and menthol use, but the best mix of messages and policy details is still being worked out.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, 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 2026-06-10 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.