VR-based attentional bias as a biomarker for tobacco use disorder

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

Adults who smoke will take part in a VR nicotine cue exposure task to identify attentional bias linked to tobacco use. They will be randomly assigned to receive varenicline or placebo after initial testing, then re-tested after eight days and monitored with brief mobile assessments. The goal is to validate a neurophysiological marker from the VR task that could predict relapse risk and serve as a surrogate endpoint for developing new smoking-cessation treatments. Participants will contribute data across baseline, treatment, and short-term follow-up to see how the biomarker tracks with changes in smoking behavior. If successful, this work could streamline future trials and precision approaches for quitting smoking.

Why it matters

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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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.