Vaping cessation for teens using Kick-Nic! and a CBT app
Official title: Vaping Cessation among youth: Evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of a virtual in-person CBT and an app-based CBT4CBT
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11413484 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Youth-focused program tests a CBT-based smartphone app and a virtual in-person CBT to help teens quit vaping.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,994,526 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA285216-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413484 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 12-20 who regularly vape and are willing to participate in a randomized trial.
✕Less likely to help
Teens with limited access to smartphones or who are unwilling to engage with a digital intervention may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports testing Kick-Nic!, a teen-focused CBT app designed to help adolescents quit e-cigarettes. The project will compare an app-based CBT4CBT approach with a virtual in-person CBT to see which helps teens stop vaping. It involves a randomized trial with hundreds of high school students who vape regularly, alongside engagement strategies like text reminders and weekly check-ins. If successful, the program could provide a scalable, teen-friendly tool to support nicotine abstinence in adolescence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, teens may quit vaping more easily using a convenient, engaging digital program and supportive coaching.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary pilots showed the app was engaging and feasible, with high retention in a small sample.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra
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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.