- Social and behavioral prevention and treatment
- cancer detection, treatment and biology
- Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
- Environmental Exposure and Toxicology
- Neuroscience of Nicotine Addiction and Treatment
- Oral Diseases and Dental Health
- Pulmonary Biology and Lung Diseases
- State and Local Tobacco Control Policy Research
- Other tobacco-related health effects
Neuroscience of nicotine addiction and treatment
Advance innovative research that addresses the biology of nicotine addiction and treatment, with a goal of understanding and reducing tobacco and nicotine product use and identifying effective therapies across the lifespan.
TRDRP supports innovative research that addresses the biology of nicotine addiction and treatment, with a goal of understanding and reducing commercial tobacco product use in populations that consistently have the highest smoking and nicotine use rates.
Examples of relevant research topics:
- Use of interdisciplinary approaches (genetic, molecular, cellular, neuroimaging, neuropsychological, cognitive, behavioral and/or developmental) to identify genetic variants and neurological biomarkers associated with nicotine dependence, metabolism and treatment responses.
- Identify potential age-related differences in progression toward nicotine addiction, nicotine withdrawal, and nicotine behavioral adaptation.
- Develop therapeutic strategies for nicotine overdose, strategies to prevent/overcome nicotine relapse after cessation, strategies to improve smoking cessation rates among heavy smokers, and therapeutic strategies for youth with nicotine dependence.
- Discern potential health effects of flavorants or tobacco products containing non-menthol synthetic cooling agents (e.g., WS-3 and WS-23), nicotine alkaloids (nicotyrine) and synthetic nicotine (metatine and meta-nicotine) on neurological health and behavior
- Understand the impact of vape product design, constituents and vape aerosols that deliver nicotine on product preference, potential mechanisms in neurological health and behavioral outcomes.
- Determine the neurological mechanisms underlying nicotine and/or dual use with cannabinoids including the involvement of reward circuits in relation to social cues/lifestyle rituals, indicators of stress, and psychiatric disorders.
- Probe the potential mechanisms for nicotine to alter neuronal cells and brain circuits and/or induce behavioral changes by engaging nicotine receptors in different regions of the brain and non-nicotinic or unknown off-target sites implicated in nicotine use.
- Translate innovative research findings of tobacco and nicotine impacts on the brain and behavior to improve cessation treatment outcomes.