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Impact of e-cigarette nicotine concentration on compensation, cigarette use, and biomarkers of exposure and harm in African American and White smokers

Award Number: K01DA054995
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

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Impact of e-cigarette nicotine concentration on compensation, cigarette use, and biomarkers of exposure and harm in African American and White smokers - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Electronic cigarette (EC) use is projected to exceed cigarette smoking within two years. Nicotine salt-based ECs have raised concerns due to their high concentrations of nicotine, potentially contributing to their rapidly increasing popularity. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has regulatory authority over ECs and has shown interest in exploring a product standard to limit the allowable level of nicotine in EC e-liquids. While the proposed product standard has merit, emerging research suggests that it could lead to a product that is just as addictive but more harmful, particularly to African American (AA) smokers. AA smokers bear a disproportionate burden of smoking-related diseases and represent an understudied population with a propensity to use products in a way that is different compared to the majority population. AA smokers take larger puffs and inhale more intensely on cigarettes than whites. While AA smoke fewer cigarettes per day than whites, AA extract 30% more nicotine per cigarette and higher levels of non-nicotine toxicants per cigarette. As more AA smokers switch to ECs, it is not known how they will use these products. No studies have investigated how rates of compensatory puffing when using ECs differ as a function of nicotine concentration among AA and white smokers or how the nicotine concentration of e-liquids could influence their rates of compensation, substitution, and EC-related toxicant exposure. The proposed study will provide this scientific evidence to inform regulation and to maximize public health benefit and limit potential harm to diverse users. Adults smokers (24 AA, 24 W) will complete two study phases. In Phase 1, participants will complete two standardized, 10-puff vaping bouts followed by a 60-minute ad libitum vaping session, using two e-liquids that differ only by nicotine concentration (5% vs. 1.8%). Phase 1 will provide objective data regarding rates of compensation as a function of nicotine concentration. In Phase 2, the same participants will be randomized to 5% or 1.8% nicotine e-liquid and instructed to switch to them completely for 6 weeks. The randomized trial will allow us to understand the comparative efficacy of 1.8% vs. 5% nicotine e-liquid on substitution rates and adverse health outcomes, including exposure to non-nicotine constituents, in the short-term under real-world use conditions. If reduced nicotine ECs were to result in greater e-liquid consumption via compensation, reduced substitution rates, and/or greater exposure to toxicants, then this would suggest that a nicotine product standard placing a limit on allowable levels of nicotine in e-liquid would lead to a product that is just as addictive but possibly more harmful. This innovative study will provide the scientific foundation needed to establish effective regulatory strategies for nicotine product standards that optimize public health. The project will serve as an incredibly valuable training experience and will establish the K01 candidate, Dr. Eleanor Leavens, as an independent tobacco regulatory scientist and launch Dr. Leavens’ career in substantial and measurable ways.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	4	1/15/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $176,361 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	001	4	9/3/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$176,361
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	3	1/19/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $176,361

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $176,361 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	3901 RAINBOW BLVD	KANSAS CITY	KS	66160	WYANDOTTE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	001	3	8/21/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$176,361
2023	2022	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	4330 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY	SHAWNEE MISSION	KS	66205	JOHNSON	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	2	11/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $176,361

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $176,361 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	4330 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY	SHAWNEE MISSION	KS	66205	JOHNSON	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	001	2	8/24/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$176,361
2022	2021	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	4330 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY	SHAWNEE MISSION	KS	66205	JOHNSON	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	1	10/12/2021	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $176,361

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $176,361 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	4330 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY	SHAWNEE MISSION	KS	66205	JOHNSON	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	1	9/7/2021	NEW	$176,361
														Subtotal = $176,361

Grand Total All Awards = $705,444

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Impact of e-cigarette nicotine concentration on compensation, cigarette use, and biomarkers of exposure and harm in African American and White smokers

Award Number: K01DA054995

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

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