Wearable sensor to track e-cigarette use in real time
Official title: Measuring E-cigarette Use in Real Time via Wearable Sensor
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11248430 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a small wearable sensor plus phone data and AI to track when and how young people use e-cigarettes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $201,939 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DA060422-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248430 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young people who currently use e-cigarettes (for example ages 18–25) and are willing to wear a small sensor and use a smartphone app.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not use e-cigarettes, cannot or will not wear sensors, or do not have a compatible smartphone are unlikely to benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would wear a small sensor (like a wrist device) and use a phone app while researchers collect movement and phone-based data. Machine learning models will look for patterns—such as hand-to-mouth motions and puff signatures—that match e-cigarette use. The team aims to capture how often and how intensely people vape in everyday life instead of relying only on memory-based surveys. Results will help researchers understand real-world vaping behavior among young people and improve future prevention and quitting programs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give a much clearer picture of vaping habits so better prevention and cessation tools can be designed for young people.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior studies have used wearables and machine learning to detect cigarette smoking, but applying these methods specifically to e-cigarette use in young people is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Eunhee — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Park, Eunhee
Related research
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This project looks at whether exposure to e-cigarette content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube and a student's cultural background relate to vaping among Mexican American college students.
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A study to understand whether vaping or traditional cigarettes cause early lung damage in young adults.
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This project looks at whether using e-cigarettes (vaping) changes brain development and thinking skills in children and teenagers.
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.