Using targeted brain stimulation to help Veterans with PTSD stop smoking
Official title: Neuroimaging correlates and feasibility of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to improve smoking cessation outcomes in Veterans with comorbid PTSD
Funded at Durham VA Medical Center · NIH-11132630 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses brain scans and targeted magnetic brain stimulation to help Veterans with PTSD quit smoking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Durham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2CX002610-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132630 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans aged 21 or older who have PTSD, currently smoke cigarettes, and are willing to attend in-person MRI and rTMS sessions to try to quit.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not currently smoke, do not have PTSD, or who have medical conditions or implants that prevent MRI or TMS (for example certain metal implants or uncontrolled seizures) are unlikely to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would get brain scans (resting-state fMRI) to map the circuits linked to smoking and PTSD, and then receive guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) aimed at those circuits. The team will combine imaging and neuronavigation to direct rTMS and track changes in brain activity over time. Researchers will measure smoking outcomes like carbon monoxide levels, cravings, and quit attempts to see if the approach is doable and helpful. Sessions and scans will take place at the Durham VA Medical Center and will focus on Veterans who want support to stop smoking.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve quit rates and reduce cravings in Veterans with PTSD by targeting the brain networks that maintain tobacco use.
How similar studies have gone: Some rTMS approaches for smoking cessation have shown promise in civilian adults and the FDA has cleared an rTMS device for short-term smoking cessation, but trials specifically in Veterans with PTSD are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young, Jonathan R — Durham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Young, Jonathan R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using brain stimulation to help Veterans with PTSD quit smoking
This study is looking at how a special treatment called rTMS can help Veterans with PTSD quit smoking by understanding how their brains react to tobacco, so they can get the support they need to stop smoking for good.
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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.