# Development of Nicotine Vapor Inhalation Chambers for Rodent Self-Administration

> **NIH NIH R44** · LA JOLLA ALCOHOL RESEARCH, INC. · 2020 · $494,461

## Abstract

Project Summary
This Phase II SBIR project will develop, optimize, test, commercialize, and take to market an inhalation
chamber that mimics the e-cigarette technology being used by human users, and being popularized by e-
cigarette manufacturers and advertisers. E-cigarette use and abuse is a major public health concern, but little
is known about the biology underlying e-cigarette use and negative health impact of e-cigarettes, which makes
it difficult for government agencies to regulate these products. Current animal models are inadequate for
examining the biological effects and addictive properties of e-cigarettes in a model that delivers vapor to
animals in the same way humans self-administer it. Therefore, the major purpose of this proposal is to develop
a nicotine e-cigarette vapor instrument to fill this gap in the market and in the e-cigarette research field. Our
general approach will be to develop and install design modifications to our current vapor administration
systems that include changes to hardware (Aims 1&2), software and user interface (Aim 3), and vaporized
solutions (Aim 4), and each of these design modifications will be tested in rats. Comprehensive dosage charts
will be developed as part of Aim 4. This phase II SBIR application proposes work that will be critical for
developing and optimizing a device that allows for nicotine vapor self-administration in rodents, using the
identical technology and route of delivery experienced by human users. The marketability for this type of
device is high because there is no such device currently on the market, and also because this research area is
a high funding priority for government agencies. Therefore, our major goal is to develop and market a device
that allows for customizable and reliable e-cigarette vapor self-administration in rats.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9873011
- **Project number:** 5R44DA046300-03
- **Recipient organization:** LA JOLLA ALCOHOL RESEARCH, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Maury D. Cole
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $494,461
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-15 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9873011

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9873011, Development of Nicotine Vapor Inhalation Chambers for Rodent Self-Administration (5R44DA046300-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9873011. Licensed CC0.

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