# Development of abuse liability-based tobacco tax proposals: Experimental impact on tobacco-related socioeconomic cancer health disparities

> **NIH NIH K01** · VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV · 2024 · $211,516

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Nearly 30% of all cancer deaths are attributable to tobacco use. Tobacco taxes have positively impacted the
prevalence of tobacco use and subsequently the incidence of tobacco-related cancers. The objective of this
project is to provide critical insight for tobacco control, by developing and testing a novel integrated tax proposal
based on the abuse liability of tobacco and nicotine products in the unique Experimental Tobacco Marketplace
(ETM), including how this proposal may interact with tobacco-related socioeconomic cancer disparities. The ETM
is an experimental model to forecast, before implementation, the effects of potential public health policies on
patterns of tobacco purchasing, including between-product substitution. The ETM places the mix of products,
prices, and specific regulations under experimental control to provide estimates of policy impact under conditions
that simulate “real-world” circumstances. To achieve these goals, three aims are proposed. Aim 1 will develop
an integrated abuse liability ranking of commercial tobacco and nicotine products through a systematic review
and a novel application of network meta-analysis. Aim 2 is a proof-of-concept study that will examine the impact
of different tax strategies based on the abuse liability of tobacco products in a laboratory-based sample of
cigarette smokers. Aim 3 will examine the equity of the most effective abuse liability dependent tax strategy by
testing its effects in a nationally representative prospective sample of lower, medium and higher socioeconomic
status smokers. These aims support the candidate’s long-term goal to become an independent researcher
investigating the differential impact of policies on tobacco initiation, use and cessation among individuals who
experience tobacco-related cancer disparities. To further support this goal, a mentored career development plan
is proposed, consisting of training in the fields of advanced statistical methods including network meta-analysis,
tobacco products abuse liability, government tax policies, and tobacco-related cancer disparities. The advice,
guidance and technical expertise provided by the candidate’s mentoring team, collaborators and consultant, and
the Virginia Tech’s supportive research environment will provide the resources necessary to successfully
complete the research and training plans. Importantly, this K01 award will provide the training, mentoring, and
research experiences needed for a highly competitive R01 application to compare the abuse liability dependent
taxes to other existing tax proposals. As importantly, this proposal will provide the essential first step in launching
an independent cancer-related research program focusing on developing and testing novel policies for the
elimination of tobacco use and its unequaled harms.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10907616
- **Project number:** 5K01CA279490-02
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Roberta Freitas Lemos
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $211,516
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-15 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10907616

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10907616, Development of abuse liability-based tobacco tax proposals: Experimental impact on tobacco-related socioeconomic cancer health disparities (5K01CA279490-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10907616. Licensed CC0.

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