Pilot Studies

A-TRAC is committed to fostering a fast-paced research environment that is flexible enough to design short term projects that focus on time-sensitive topics identified by the FDA Center for Tobacco Products and the TCORS community. The program has started its first year of funding with two projects that will focus on outlining the toxicity and health effects of JUUL use.

2018-2019 Funding Cycle

Project title: JUUL Impact on Vascular Health Effects (JIVE)
Investigators: Michael Blaha, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University; Naomi Hamburg, MD, Boston University

Project title: Cardiovascular Toxicity of JUUL
Investigators: Daniel Conklin, PhD, University of Louisville; Naomi Hamburg, MD, Boston University

Pilot Studies

To foster a continuation of scientific inquiry related to both TCORS goals and FDA needs, A-TRAC developed a Developmental and Pilot Research Component to promote the exploration of new ideas by developing and implementing pilot research projects. Similar to the Center’s overall structure, these pilot projects operated across major research areas and were supported by A-TRAC at different academic institutions.

2017-2018 Funding Cycle

Project Title: Evaluating the Feasibility of Creating a Cross Cohort Collaboration (CCC) Tobacco Dataset
Investigator: Michael Blaha, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University

Project Title: Cardiovascular toxicity of Vaping and Flavorant-Constituents
Investigator: Judith Zelikoff, PhD, New York University

Project Title: Tobacco Product Transitions and Health across the Life Course in a Nationally Representative Longitudinal Study of Youth and Adults in the United States
Investigator: Lindsay Reynolds, PhD, Wake Forest University; Andrew Stokes, PhD, Boston University

2016-2017 Funding Cycle

Project title: Little Cigar and Cigarillo Induced Cardiovascular Toxicity in Human Subjects
Investigator: Jessica Fetterman, PhD, Boston University

Project title: Longitudinal follow up of young adult E-cigarette users for assessing cardiovascular and lung health
Investigator: Shyam Biswal, PhD, Johns Hopkins University

Project title: The Impact of Cardiovascular Risk-Benefit Messages on Preferences to Purchase Cigarettes or Alternative Nicotine Delivery Products
Investigator: Terry Pechacek, PhD, Georgia State University

Project title: Teen Vaping Among Vulnerable Populations: Understanding the “Why”
Investigator: Rose Marie Robertson, MD, American Heart Association

2015-2016 Funding Cycle

Project title: Evaluating the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Health Effects of Electronic Cigarettes in Human
Investigator: Michael J. Blaha, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University

Project title: Effects of original and flavored e-cigarettes on generation and urinary metabolism of reactive aldehydes (extension).
Investigator: Pawel Lorkiewicz, PhD; Research Scientist, University of Louisville

2014-2015 Funding Cycle

Activation: Sept. 1, 2014

Project title: Effects of original and flavored e-cigarettes on generation and urinary metabolism of reactive aldehydes.
Investigator: Pawel Lorkiewicz, PhD; Research Scientist, University of Louisville

Project title: Electronic Cigarette Aldehydes and Cardiovascular Toxicity
Investigator: Daniel Conklin, PhD; Assistant Professor, University of Louisville

Award Activation: May 1, 2015

Project Title: Informing Tobacco Product Regulation and Education Campaigns through Study of the Real-Time Association Between Smoking Addiction and Physical Activity: Leveraging Mobile Health Tools in a Vulnerable East Baltimore Population
Investigator: Michael J. Blaha, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University

Project Title: Oral mucosal exposure to smokeless tobacco causes differential cardio-toxicity in a mouse model
Investigator: Judith T. Zelikoff, PhD, New York University

View the Pilot Studies Flowchart (PDF)