Yale lab for measuring chemicals in tobacco and e-cigarette products

Laboratory Core

NIH-funded research Yale University · NIH-11159822

This lab measures chemicals in tobacco and e-cigarette products and in users' blood or urine to learn how flavors, coolants, and different kinds of nicotine may raise the risk of addiction and harm.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project IDNIH-11159822 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If I take part, the Yale Laboratory Core will chemically analyze the tobacco products or e-liquids I use and the vapors they produce, measuring nicotine (including R- and S- forms), flavorants, coolants, sweeteners, and contaminants such as NNAL. They will also test biological samples (blood or urine) for biomarkers like nicotine, cotinine, 3-hydroxycotinine, total nicotine equivalents, nicotelline, and menthol glucuronide to estimate my exposure. The core can create custom e-liquids when needed for experiments and maintains a database of product constituents to support other Center projects. Those data are used to link product ingredients with levels of exposure and potential for addiction or harm.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are people who use tobacco or e-cigarettes and are willing to provide samples of their products and biological samples (blood or urine).

Not a fit: People who do not use tobacco or e-cigarettes, or who cannot provide product or biological samples, are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help regulators limit or remove ingredients that increase addiction or harm, potentially reducing tobacco-related illness.

How similar studies have performed: Measuring biomarkers such as cotinine and NNAL is well-established, while linking specific flavorings or synthetic nicotine types to addiction risk is a newer area of research.

Where this research is happening

New Haven, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.