Larner College of Medicine Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and UVM Cancer Center member Elias Klemperer, Ph.D., alongside Co-PI Matthew Carpenter, Ph.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) have received a prestigious R01 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Larner Researcher Leads Groundbreaking Study on Dual Tobacco Use
Larner College of Medicine Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and UVM Cancer Center member Elias Klemperer, Ph.D., alongside Co-PI Matthew Carpenter, Ph.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) have received a prestigious R01 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The $3.2 million award will support Klemperer and his team as they conduct a comprehensive study on the dual use of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). This research will investigate the patterns of dual use and their impact on smoking cessation, with potential implications for both clinical practice and regulatory policy.
“Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the US, and accounts for nearly one third of all cancer deaths. Most experts agree that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, but it’s unclear whether dual use of both products increases or decreases risk for harm” said Klemperer. “This study aims to identify patterns of dual use that can lead to harm reduction.”
The study, titled "Dual Use of Combustible and Electronic Cigarettes: A Fine-Grained Naturalistic Cohort Study to Investigate Dynamic Use Patterns and Trajectories that Lead to Smoking Cessation," will follow a national cohort of 396 dual users, alongside 198 exclusive smokers and 198 exclusive e-cigarette users. Through daily diaries, monthly surveys and more, the study aims to identify the specific use patterns that most effectively predict quitting combustible cigarettes.
The shifting landscape of tobacco products has seen an increase in poly-tobacco use, particularly the dual use of combustible and e-cigarettes. While some evidence suggests that dual use could potentially reduce individual and population harm by lowering toxicant exposure and facilitating the cessation of combustible cigarette smoking, these benefits are only realized if dual users successfully transition away from smoking entirely. Klemperer’s study will explore the critical differences in use patterns that may either reduce or perpetuate harm.
“Broadly, our goal is to better understand dual use patterns and trajectories among adults. How stable are people in their use? How do smoking and vaping patterns change day to day or week to week? How do patterns of dual use compare to exclusive e-cigarette or exclusive cigarette use?” said Klemperer.
This project will recruit nationally and is the largest study of dual users compared to exclusive users ever conducted, designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between combustible cigarettes, which are the root cause of significant cancer incidence and mortality, and e-cigarettes, an increasingly popular nicotine product. This research builds on Klemperer’s prior work and is expected to significantly expand foundational knowledge regarding tobacco use behavior and cessation among adults who dually use cigarettes and e-cigarettes.