Research Grants
Virginia Youth Tobacco Project Research Grants 2002-24
Large Grants 2002-24
Project Name: Improving Approaches to Youth Vaping Prevention and Cessation in the Educational Setting. PI(s): Paul Harrell and Amy Paulson, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Project Name: Engaging Virginia Youth and Community in Designing LGBTQ+ Inclusive Vaping Prevention Interventions. PI(s): Rima Nakkash, George Mason University
Project Name: Innovating and Implementing Youth Tobacco Prevention in Virginia. PI(s): Hong Xue, George Mason University.
Project Name: Chemical Characterization of Confiscated E-cigarette Products. PI(s): Michelle Peace, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Project Name: Developing a Policy Toolkit to Regulate Tobacco Retail Outlet Density. PI(s): Bernard Fuemmeler and Morgan Snell, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Project Name: The Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects Research Coalition. PI(s): Alison Breland and Caroline Cobb, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Project Name: A Risk-Tailored Approach to Connecting Youth with Vaping Prevention and Cessation Resources. PI(s): Paul Harrell, PhD, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Project Name: Systems Simulation Modeling for Youth Tobacco Prevention and Control Research in Virginia PI(s): Hong Xue, PhD, George Mason University
Project Name: Understanding Youth Exposure to Tobacco Marketing in Non-metropolitan and Rural Settings. PI(s): Bernard Fuemmeler, PhD, MPH, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Adolescents' Exposure to and Interactions with Messages about ENDS in Diverse Social Media Formats. PI(s): Rose Wesche, PhD, Virginia Tech
Project Name: Testing an Anti-Tobacco Intervention to Reduce Tobacco and Nicotine Use among High School Students. PI(s): Melissa Little, PhD, MPH, University of Virginia
Project Name: The Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects Research Coalition Core. PI(s): J. Randy Koch, PhD, and Alison Breland, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Culturally Enhancing a Motivational Interviewing Intervention for Latinx Adolescents. PI(s): Rosalie Corona, PhD, Daniel Gutierrez and Oswaldo Moreno PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Geospatial Analysis of Tobacco/Vape Retail Outlets and Youth Tobacco Use to Inform VA Policies. PI(s): Elizabeth Do, PhD, MPH, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth Exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences. PI(s): Sunny Shin, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: A Social Ecological Approach to Alternative Tobacco Education. PI(s): Kelli Will, PhD, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Project Name: Systems Modeling and Simulations for Effective Tobacco Control and Prevention Policies among Youth. PI(s): Hong Xue, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Profiling Youth Cigar Use in Low SES Communities: A mixed methods approach. PI(s): Andrew Barnes, PhD, Caroline Cobb, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Categorization and effects of e-cigarette ads on attitudes, intentions, and abuse liability in youth. PI(s): Andrew Barnes, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Exercise and Environmental Enrichment to Prevent Nicotine Addiction in Adolescent Males and Females. PI(s): Darlene J. Brunzell, PhD and Wendy J. Lynch, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Virginia
Project Name: Integrating Tobacco Prevention Strategies into Behavioral Parent Training for Adolescents with ADHD. PI(s): Rosalie Corona, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Tobacco Coalition Core. PI(s): Randy J. Koch, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Characterization of Nicotine Vapor Intake in Adolescent Mice. PI(s): Michael Scott, PhD, University of Virginia
Project Name: Examining E-Cigarette Use: Developing Effective Risk Communication Methods to Reach Virginia Youth. PI(s): Kelli Will, PhD, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Project Name: Research Coalition Core/Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects. PI(s): Robert Balster, PhD and J. Randy Koch, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Can Parents Help Prevent Youth Tobacco Use? An Evaluation of Two Evidence-based Parenting Programs. PI(s): Rosalie Corona, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: What Social and Molecular Factors Drive Nicotine Preference in Adolescent Mice? PI(s): Karl J. Fryxell, PhD, George Mason University
Project Name: Reducing Teen Tobacco Use Via Text Messaging: Motivational Interviewing Integrated with Social Network Counseling. PI(s): Michael Mason, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Mechanisms of Adolescent Vulnerability to Neurobehavioral Effects of Nicotine. PI(s): Robert F. Smith PhD and Craig G. McDonald, George Mason University
Project Name: Adolescent Nicotine: from the First Experience to Neural Remodeling. PI(s): Robert F. Smith, PhD, and Craig McDonald, PhD, George Mason University.
Project Name: Partnering with Rural Youth and Parents to Design and Test a Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use Prevention Program Model. PI(s): Pamela Kulbock, PhD, University of Virginia, Peggy Meszaros, PhD, Virginia Tech, and Donna Bond, RN, MSN, Carilion Health System.
Project Name: A Decision Aid to Reduce Substance Use Risk Behaviors in Medically At-Risk Adolescents: Targeting Persistent Asthma. PI(s): Patricia Hollen, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Mary O'Laughlen, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, University of Virginia.
Project Name: Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects Coalition Core. PI(s): Robert Balster, PhD, J. Randy Koch, PhD, and Alison Breland, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Project Name: Exercise as a Prevention and Intervention Strategy for Nicotine Use in Adolescents. PI(s): Darlene Brunzell, PhD, and Wendy Lynch, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Project Name: Tobacco Use Among Youth Receiving Public Behavioral Healthcare Services. PI(s): J. Randy Koch, PhD, Alison Breland, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Jessica Irons, PhD, James Madison University.
Project Name: Translating Research into an Evidence-Based Model Curriculum. PI(s): Earl Dowdy, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Project Name: Research Coalition Core/Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects. PI(s): Robert Balster, PhD and J. Randy Koch, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Long-Term Impact of Adolescent Nicotine on Cognitive Function. PI(s): Robert Barnet, PhD , Joshua A. Burk, PhD and Pamela Hunt, PhD, The College of William & Mary
Project Name: LIFT+: Assessing the Efficacy of a School-Based Health Promotion Intervention on Tobacco Use and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Rural Youth LIFT+ program. PI(s): Steve Danish, PhD and Early Dowdy, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: 1) Establishing an association between stress/anxiety and rewarding properties of nicotine in mice 2) Determine behavioral quantitative trait loci for nicotine CPP and identify candidate gene expression networks correlated with nicotine CPP by expression profiling 3) The genetics of smoking initiation and nicotine dependence in humans: statistical and molecular approaches. PI(s): Billy Martin, PhD, Kenneth S. Kendler, PhD, Imad Damaj, PhD, and Michael Miles, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: The Development and Implementation Assessment of a Tobacco Use Prevention Model for Youth with Psychiatric Disorders. PI(s): Peggy S. Meszaros, PhD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Project Name: Neurodevelopmental effects of adolescent nicotine. PI(s): Robert F. Smith, PhD, George Mason University
Project Name: Pathways to Smoking Among African-American Adolescents: Family, Contextual, and Cultural Factors. PI(s): Faye C. Belgrave, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: The Tobacco Prevention Research Center, Smoking and ADHD and Dieting Behavior, Weight Concerns, and Smoking Initiation among Adolescents. PI(s): Steven W. Evans, PhD, James Madison University
Project Name: Youth Tobacco Evaluation Project. PI(s): Elizabeth A. Fries, PhD and Diane Baer Wilson, EdD, RD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Preventing Addiction in Adolescent Smokers. PI(s): Deborah L. Haller, PhD, Thomas E. Eissenberg, PhD, Karen Ingersoll, PhD, Carolyn Heckman, PhD and Alison Breland, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: The Role of Genetic, Family Environmental, and Individual-Specific Environmental Risk Factors in the Etiology of Tobacco Initiation and the Progression to Nicotine Dependence and Molecular Genetic Identification of Individual Genes that Influence Vulnerability to Tobacco Initiation and the Progression to Nicotine Dependence. PI(s): Kenneth S. Kendler, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: 1) Gene Microarray Analysis of Nicotine Effects on Brain Tissue 2)Nicotine Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics 3) Acute Behavioral Effects of Nicotine Administration in Adolescent Mice 4) Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Nicotine on Vulnerability to Addiction Nicotine Self-Administration and Place Preference Behavior in Rats. PI(s): Billy R. Martin, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Genetic and Environmental Factors in the Transition from Tobacco Use to Nicotine Dependence. PI(s): Donna R. Miles, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Research Coalition Core/Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects. PI(s): Roy Pickens, PhD and Robert Balster, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: A Rodent Model of Adolescent Nicotine Effects. PI(s): Robert F. Smith, PhD, George Mason University
Small Grants 2003-24
Project Name: LGBTQ+ college youth engagement and participation in informing prevention programs to curb ENDs use among them and their peers. PI(s): Rima Nakkash, PhD, MPH, George Mason University
Project Name: Behavioral and Molecular Impact of Adolescent Nicotine Vaping PI(s): Imad Damaj, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Protective Effects Against the Negative Impact of Racial Discrimination and Stress on Menthol Cigarette Use in African Americans. PI(s): Shawn C.T. Jones, PhD, MHS, LCP, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Tobacco Use Prevention: Culturally-specific Protective Processes in College Students with Asthma PI(s): Robin Everhart, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Does a History of Intense Exercise Enhance Vulnerability to Nicotine Use and Addiction? PI(s): Wendy Lynch, PhD and Tanseli Nesil, PhD, University of Virginia
Project Name: Potential Exposure of Youth to Free Base Nicotine: A Comparative Study of Juul and Box Mod Electronic Cigarette Devices. PI(s): Matthew Halquist, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Message Development for a Physician-Facilitated Text Messaging Intervention to Prevent Electronic Cigarette Use among Youth in Northern Virginia. PI(s): Xiaomei Cai, PhD and Xiaoquan Zhao, PhD, George Mason University
Project Name: Adolescent Beliefs about E-Cigarettes: Measure Development to Understand and Reduce Youth Initiation. PI(s): Paul Harrell, PhD, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Project Name: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Tobacco use During the Transition to Adulthood. PI(s): Sunny Shin, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: The Effects of Social Isolation and CD81 Gene Functions on Nicotine Consumption by Adolescent Mice. PI(s): Karl J. Fryxell, PhD, George Mason University
Project Name: Factors that Protect Against Tobacco Use During the Transition to College for Adolescents with and without ADHD. PI(s): Joshua Langberg, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: A Targeted Molecular and Genetic Analysis of the Effects of Nicotine Exposure on Previously Unexposed Adolescents. PI(s): Warren Bickel, PhD, Virginia Tech
Project Name: African American Parent-Adolescent Communication About Tobacco Use. PI(s): Rosalie Corona, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Menthol Cigarette Addiction. PI(s): Nadine Kabbani, PhD, George Mason University
Project Name: Protective Factors against Smoking Initiation for Sexual Minority and Multiple Minority Adolescents. PI(s): Christine Kaestle, PhD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Project Name: Investigation of Global DNA Methylation following Nicotine Exposure. PI(s): Michael Scott, PhD, University of Virginia
Project Name: Early Nicotine Exposure and Vulnerability to Drug Abuse. PI(s): Imad Damaj, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Media Literacy Tobacco Prevention for Youth in Virginia: A Randomized Impact Assessment Pilot Study. PI(s): Christine Kaestle, PhD and Yi-Chun Chen, PhD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Project Name: Which signaling pathway(s) drive nicotine preference in adolescent C57BL/6J mice? PI(s): Karl J. Fryxell, PhD, George Mason University
Project Name: Clearing the Air: Computerized Screening and Brief Intervention for Teen Smoking. PI(s): L. Keyser-Marcus, PhD, J. Kienzle, PhD and R. Pickens, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: An electrophysiological study of neurocognitive functioning in adolescent smokers. PI(s): Craig G. McDonald, George Mason University
Project Name: Cigarillos, Youth & YouTube: A Content Analysis of Smoking Videograms. PI(s): Aashir Nasim, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Modifying Social Norms as a Policy Tool for Preventing Youth Smoking Initiative: A Proposal for Monitoring Changes in Nonsmoking Policies in Multiunit Dwellings in Virginia. PI(s): Richard Bonnie, JD and Shelly Jackson, University of Virginia
Project Name: A Targeted Molecular and Genetic Analysis of the Effects of Nicotine Exposure on Previously Unexposed Adolescents. PI(s): Karl J. Fryxell, PhD, George Mason University
Project Name: Predicting Patterns of Tobacco Use among Virginia Youth: Untangling the Interplay of Gender, Race, Age, Health Beliefs, Social Environments and Prevention. PI(s): Christine Kaestle, PhD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Project Name: Factors Predictive of Vulnerability to Nicotine Addiction during the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood: An Animal Model. PI(s): Wendy J. Lynch, PhD, University of Virginia
Project Name: Sensitivity to Nicotine in Adolescence. PI(s): Susan E. Robinson, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Preventing Youth Tobacco Use by Treating the Risk-Factor of ADHD: A Follow-up Study of Adolescents with ADHD. PI(s): Zewelanji Serpell, PhD and Steven W. Evans, PhD, Virginia State University & James Madison University
Project Name: Protective Factors for Tobacco and Other Drug Use Among African American Adolescents. PI(s): Faye Belgrave, PhD
Project Name: Adolescent Nicotine and Alcohol Administration and Cognition. PI(s): Joshua Burk, PhD, The College of William and Mary
Project Name: Youth Tobacco Control Policy Research: Behavioral and Biological Factors. PI(s): Bruce Dembling, PhD, University of Virginia
Project Name: Protective Factors and Youth Nonsmoking Behavior. PI(s): Pamela Kulbok, PhD, University of Virginia
Project Name: Smoking Habits of Adolescent Outpatients with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. PI(s): Julie Linker, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Name: Social Factors Related to Smoking Among Middle and High School Students with ADHD. PI(s): Zewelanji Serpell, PhD, James Madison University
Small Grants Program
Research on the Causes and Prevention of Youth Tobacco Use
The Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects (VYTP) is a statewide, multi-university effort to advance the prevention and treatment of youth tobacco use and nicotine dependence through an integrated program of basic and applied research. This effort is coordinated by the Center for the Study of Tobacco Products (CSTP) at Virginia Commonwealth University, with funding provided by the Virginia Foundation for Health Youth (VFHY). The VYTP is implementing several initiatives to enhance Virginia’s efforts to learn more about the causes and prevention of youth tobacco use. The specific goals of the VYTP are to:
- Build a statewide program of research on the causes and prevention of youth tobacco use;
- Create active multi-university collaborations in carrying out the VYTP research program;
- Attract new faculty scholars and students to work on problems of youth smoking;
- Use VFHY funding as a base for attracting additional outside funding for youth tobacco research in Virginia; and
- Translate research findings into improved prevention services and policies.
The purpose of our small grants program is to stimulate new research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of youth tobacco use and nicotine dependence. It is anticipated that awardees will use grant funds to support pilot studies that will lead to larger grant applications to Federal, state, and foundation sources. The VYTP small grants program is intended to foster multi-university and multi-disciplinary research teams. It is also anticipated that this program will be used by relatively new investigators and by senior researchers who are new to the field of youth tobacco research to initiate their efforts in this growing and critical area of investigation. The participation of students is encouraged in order to train the next generation of researchers on youth tobacco use.
We currently have an RFA released, with applications due October 21st. Please contact Dr. Caroline Cobb at cobbco@vcu.edu with any questions.