Using virtual reality to understand how attention affects tobacco addiction
Official title: Advancing VR-based attentional bias as a biomarker for tobacco use disorder
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11164800 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how daily tobacco users react to virtual reality situations that remind them of smoking, to see if their attention to these cues can help predict how well they might do with quitting smoking, especially when using a medication called varenicline compared to a placebo.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $556,149 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058665-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11164800 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are daily cigarette smokers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not smoke or are not interested in quitting smoking may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how attentional bias, a behavioral indicator of addiction, can be measured using a virtual reality (VR) nicotine cue exposure paradigm. Participants who are daily tobacco users will engage with VR scenarios designed to trigger nicotine-related cues, allowing researchers to assess their attentional responses. The study aims to validate this attentional bias as a biomarker for tobacco use disorder and explore its potential in predicting treatment outcomes for smoking cessation. By comparing responses to a medication called varenicline versus a placebo, the research seeks to enhance the development of effective smoking cessation therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for individuals struggling with tobacco addiction.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results using similar virtual reality approaches to assess attentional bias in addiction, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Courtney, Kelly Elizabeth — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Courtney, Kelly Elizabeth
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VR-based attentional bias as a biomarker for tobacco use disorder
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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.