# PROJECT 2: SHORT-TERM CARDIOVSCULAR EFFECTS OF E-CIGARETTES: INFLUENCE OF DEVICE POWER AND E-LIQUID pH AND HOW E-CIGARETTES COMPARE WITH HEAT-NOT-BURN PRODUCTS

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $408,105

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Components and parts of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), such as batteries and e-liquids, are within the
Food and Drug Administration's regulatory authority. There are, however, significant gaps in understanding of
how specific aspects of these components and parts influence the overall health effects of e-cigarettes,
including short-term cardiovascular effects. E-cigarette power is an important determinant of aerosol
generation, nicotine delivery, and the type and amount of toxicants generated in e-cigarette aerosols, but the
influence of power on these cardiovascular effects has not been described. In addition, the influence of e-
cigarette liquid (e-liquid) pH on rate of systemic nicotine absorption, nicotine-induced sympathetic nervous
system stimulation, and heart rate increase, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is not understood. There is
a similar lack of knowledge about the health effects of heat-not-burn (HNB) products, which heat tobacco
without combustion. It is expected that HNB products will compete with conventional cigarettes and e-
cigarettes. Philip Morris Products S.A. has filed an application with the FDA to market its HNB product, iQOS,
as a modified risk tobacco product in the U.S. Differences in the cardiovascular disease risks between e-
cigarettes and HNB products are unknown. This project has three specific aims to fill these gaps: (1)
Determine the impact of e-cigarette power on nicotine pharmacology, systemic exposure to toxic volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), and short-term cardiovascular effects; (2) Determine the impact of changes in e-
liquid pH on nicotine pharmacokinetics, cardiovascular, and subjective effects of e-cigarettes; and (3) Compare
differences in nicotine pharmacology, systemic exposure to toxic VOCs, and short-term cardiovascular effects
of e-cigarettes to heat-not-burn tobacco products. These aims will be achieved through three within-subject
crossover human pharmacology studies, one study for each aim, which will be conducted on a hospital
research ward with healthy users of e-cigarettes and/or iQOS. Power and e-liquid pH will be manipulated in
aims 1 and 2, respectively, and the endpoints will be markers of cardiovascular disease risk. The third aim will
be a within-subject comparison of toxicant exposure and the cardiovascular effects of e-cigarettes compared to
iQOS. This study of health effects will contribute to knowledge of the influence of e-cigarette characteristics
on their short-term cardiovascular effects, and the cardiovascular effects of e-cigarettes compared to iQOS as
part of the UCSF TCORS integrated theme that “understanding combined health effects, behavior, and
impact analysis will provide actionable information for regulation of and public communications about current
and emerging tobacco products.” These studies will provide the FDA with detailed and specific information on
short-term cardiovascular effects of e-cigarettes to inform regulat...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999019
- **Project number:** 5U54HL147127-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Gideon St.Helen
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $408,105
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-09-19 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999019

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999019, PROJECT 2: SHORT-TERM CARDIOVSCULAR EFFECTS OF E-CIGARETTES: INFLUENCE OF DEVICE POWER AND E-LIQUID pH AND HOW E-CIGARETTES COMPARE WITH HEAT-NOT-BURN PRODUCTS (5U54HL147127-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999019. Licensed CC0.

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