# Predictors and Consequences of Combustible Cigarette Smokers' Switch to Standardized Research E-Cigarettes

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2023 · $156,983

## Abstract

Combustible tobacco use remains the primary cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in the United States,
and a major cause of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Although there has been tremendous progress
in reducing cigarette smoking, approximately 15% of adults over age 18 in the U.S. currently smoke cigarettes,
and progress with smoking cessation may be stalling. To reduce the substantial toll from tobacco, we need to
consider a variety of approaches to more rapidly reduce its harm, especially for those smokers who may not be
motivated or ready to stop smoking or who have been unsuccessful in quitting with current cessation
treatments. The primary purpose of this study is to examine whether conventional, combustible cigarette
smokers can reduce their use of cigarettes and associated harms by switching to an e-cigarette (Standardized
Research E-Cigarette or SREC). This project will use Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA) to gather
real-time, naturalistic reports of conventional smokers' use and experience of SREC as they attempt to switch
from combustible cigarettes to SREC. We will examine how the proximal contexts and subjective experiences
surrounding SREC use differ from smokers' patterns and responses to conventional cigarette use, and how
these patterns of differences may predict success in switching. In addition, we will assess in-depth, in real time,
smokers' reports of urges and withdrawal symptoms as they switch to SREC. We will also evaluate changes in
health and biomarker variables. We will enroll a sample of 180 adult combustible cigarette smokers who are
interested in switching to e-cigarettes. Participants will complete a baseline one-week EMA wave while they
are smoking their usual cigarettes, complete baseline assessments, and then will be randomized (within sex
and use of menthol cigarettes) in a 2:1 ratio to either a nicotine SREC or a placebo SREC. Participants will
receive brief behavioral counseling about switching, and after an initial week of using SREC, they will complete
another EMA week assessing patterns and responses to use of both SREC and cigarettes. Participants will
receive 12 weeks of SREC; compete daily reports of product use along with bi-weekly check-ins through the
end of the 12-week trial, and then complete a one-month follow-up. Our aims are to: 1) Examine whether
conventional cigarette smokers can significantly reduce their combustible cigarette use by switching to SREC;
2) Examine whether reductions in conventional cigarette use and uptake of SREC are associated with changes
in health and biomarker variables; 3) Examine smokers' subjective responses to SREC in real time, as they are
used, and whether these responses are associated with cigarette reduction; and 4) Examine how patterns of
use (e.g., contexts, timing) and subjective experience with SREC differ from conventional cigarette use, and
whether differences are associated with success in switching to SREC. Data from this study will provide...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10811935
- **Project number:** 4U01DA045524-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Robin J. Mermelstein
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $156,983
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10811935

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10811935, Predictors and Consequences of Combustible Cigarette Smokers' Switch to Standardized Research E-Cigarettes (4U01DA045524-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10811935. Licensed CC0.

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