Additional Funded Research Projects

Adult Longitudinal Outcomes Health Assessment (ALOHA)

This longitudinal study evaluates the natural history and determinants of smoking behaviors in an already established cohort of 1000 adolescents (initiated at age 14) into young adulthood (to age 22).  Data from this study may ultimately inform the timing, level, type and specific target of smoking prevention and cessation interventions.                                                            Principal Investigator: Janet Audrain-McGovern, Ph.D.                                                                                                                         Funding Source:   National Cancer Institute R01                                                                                                                                         Click HERE for publications related to this study

Project GRAD

This randomized clinical trial assesses the efficacy of a novel smoking cessation counseling intervention for 18-24 year old college students.  All subjects receive six one-and-a-half hour counseling sessions.  Follow-up data are collected at 6 and 12 months after the target quit date.                                                                                                                                                        Principal Investigator: Janet Audrain-McGovern, Ph.D.                                                                                                                         Funding Source:   National Cancer Institute R01                                                                                                                                        

Pharmacogenetic Investigation of Naltrexone

This within-subject human behavioral pharmacology study examines the effects of naltrexone, a mu opioid receptor antagonist medication, on smoking behavior in persons with different mu opioid receptor genotypes.
Principal Investigator: Caryn Lerman, Ph.D.                                                                                                                                       Funding Source:   National Institute of Drug Abuse R01                                                                                                                              Click HERE for publications related to this study

Smoking Topography and Harm Exposure in New Potential Reduced Exposure Products (PREP’s)

As an alternative to smoking cessation, some smokers may opt to use potential reduced exposure products (PREPs), such as Quest® cigarettes, that purportedly offer a "step-down approach to becoming nicotine-free" by marketing cigarettes with progressively lower levels of nicotine: 0.6 mg, 0.3 mg and 0.05 mg. This within-subject study will investigate the effect of progressive decreases in cigarette nicotine level on smoking topography (e.g., depth and duration of puffs) and harm exposure measures so that the effects of PREPs on smoking behavior and carcinogen exposure can be evaluated. 
Principal Investigator: Andrew Strasser, Ph.D.                                                                                                                                  Funding Source:   National Cancer Institute, Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation                                                               Click HERE for publications related to this study

Tobacco Dependence Treatment in Underserved Smokers

This study tests the safety and efficacy of a novel medication for the treatment of tobacco dependence, Modafinil, in a population of urban African-American and Caucasian smokers.  Modafinil can alleviate many symptoms that are associated with nicotine withdrawal such as depressive symptoms, attention and concentration deficits, and fatigue. Given that most smokers who attempt to quit using currently available treatments will eventually relapse, the current study may provide the basis for the consideration of a new medication for the treatment of nicotine dependence.
Principal Investigators: Robert Schnoll, Ph.D./Caryn Lerman, Ph.D.                                                                                           Funding Source:   Commonwealth of Pennsylvania                                                                                                                               

Smoking Cessation for Cancer Patients

This placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial compares the efficacy of a multi-modal, intensive smoking cessation treatment (i.e., bupropion + NRT + counseling) with a moderately intensive cessation treatment (i.e., NRT + counseling) in patients with head and neck cancer.  We expect that findings from this study will inform smoking cessation intervention development for this high-risk population of cancer patients who smoke.
Principal Investigator: Robert Schnoll, Ph.D.                                                                                                                                      Funding Source:   National Cancer Institute R01                                                                                                                                        Click HERE for publications related to this study

Comparing the Lozenge to the Patch for Smoking Cessation

This study compares the nicotine patch to the nicotine lozenge for smoking cessation with the goal of ascertaining whether these different forms of nicotine replacement are more effective for different subgroups of smokers.  Results from this study will go toward informing the prescription of nicotine replacement therapies.                                                                            Principal Investigator: Robert Schnoll, Ph.D.                                                                                                                                      Funding Source:   American Cancer Society                                                                                                                                     

Biobehavioral Model of Smoking by Russians with Cancer

The purpose of this epidemiological study is to extend our current knowledge about the prevalence of different genotypes related to smoking behavior and to assess the associations of these genotypes (independently and collectively) with smoking cessation in a sample of newly diagnosed ethnically-homogenous cancer patients in Moscow, Russia.
Principal Investigator: Robert Schnoll, Ph.D.                                                                                                                                      Funding Source:    National Cancer Institute Fogarty                                                                                                                                     Click HERE for publications related to this study

Related Publications

Adult Longitudinal Outcomes Health Assessment (ALOHA):

 Tercyak, K. P., Rodriguez, D., & Audrain-McGovern, J. (In Press). High school seniors' smoking initiation and progression one year after graduation. Am Journal of Public Health.

 Rodriguez, D., Romer, D., & Audrain-McGovern, J. (In Press). Beliefs about risks of smoking mediate the relationship between exposure to smoking and smoking. Psychosom Med.

Pharmacogenetic Investigation of Naltrexone:

 Ray, R., Jepson, C., Patterson, F., Strasser, A. A., Rukstalis, M., Perkins, K., Lynch, K. G., O'Malley, S., Berrettini, W. H., & Lerman, C. (In Press). Association of OPRM1 A118G variant with the relative reinforcing value of nicotine. Psychopharmacology.

Rukstalis, M., Jepson, C., Strasser, A., Lynch, K. G., Perkins, K., Patterson, F., & Lerman, C. (2005). Naltrexone reduces the relative reinforcing value of nicotine in a cigarette smoking choice paradigm. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 180(1), 41-48.

Smoking Topography and Harm Exposure in New Potential Reduced Exposure Products (PREP’s): Related Publications

 Shadel, W. G., Lerman, C., Cappella, J., Strasser, A. A., Pinto, A., & Hornik, R. (2006). Evaluating smokers' reactions to advertising for new lower nicotine quest cigarettes. Psychol Addict Behav, 20(1), 80-84.

Strasser, A. A., Lerman, C., Sanborn, P. M., Pickworth, W. B., & Feldman, W. A. (In Press). New lower nicotine cigarettes can produce compensatory smoking and increased carbon monoxide exposure. Drug and Alcohol Depend.

Strasser, A. A., O'Connor, R. J., Mooney, M. E., & Wileyto, E. P. (In Press). Digital image analysis of cigarette filter stains as an indicator of compensatory smoking. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev.

Smoking Cessation for Cancer Patients:

Schnoll, R. A., Rothman, R. L., Wielt, D. B., Lerman, C., Pedri, H., Wang, H., Babb, J., Miller, S. M., Movsas, B., Sherman, E., Ridge, J. A., Unger, M., Langer, C., Goldberg, M., Scott, W., & Cheng, J. (2005). A randomized pilot study of cognitive-behavioral therapy versus basic health education for smoking cessation among cancer patients. Ann Behav Med, 30(1), 1-11.

Schnoll, R. A., Rothman, R. L., Newman, H., Lerman, C., Miller, S. M., Movsas, B., Sherman, E., Ridge, J. A., Unger, M., Langer, C., Goldberg, M., Scott, W., & Cheng, J. (2004). Characteristics of cancer patients entering a smoking cessation program and correlates of quit motivation: implications for the development of tobacco control programs for cancer patients. Psychooncology, 13(5), 346-358.

Schnoll, R. A., Rothman, R. L., Lerman, C., Miller, S. M., Newman, H., Movsas, B., Sherman, E., Ridge, J. A., Unger, M., Langer, C., Goldberg, M., Scott, W., & Cheng, J. (2004). Comparing cancer patients who enroll in a smoking cessation program at a comprehensive cancer center with those who decline enrollment. Head Neck, 26(3), 278-286.

chnoll, R. A., James, C., Malstrom, M., Rothman, R. L., Wang, H., Babb, J., Miller, S. M., Ridge, J. A., Movsas, B., Langer, C., Unger, M., & Goldberg, M. (2003). Longitudinal predictors of continued tobacco use among patients diagnosed with cancer. Ann Behav Med, 25(3), 214-222.

Biobehavioral Model of Smoking by Russians with Cancer:

Schnoll, R. A., Engstrom, P. F., Subramanian, S., Demidov, L., Wielt, D. B., & Tighiouart, M. (2006). Prevalence and correlates of tobacco use among Russian cancer patients: implications for the development of smoking cessation interventions at a cancer center in Russia. Int J Behav Med, 13(1), 16-25.

Schnoll, R. A., Engstrom, P. F., Subramanian, S., Demidov, L., & Wielt, D. B. (2006). Smoking cessation counseling by Russian oncologists: opportunities for intervention in the Russian Federation. Int J Behav Med, 13(1), 8-15.