University of Wisconsin–Madison

2025 Report

OVERVIEW: UW-CTRI releases a research update in January and July of each year. This report summarizes manuscripts, presentations, grants and financials of the Center. Archived reports are available online at: https://ctri.wisc.edu/researchers/published-research/

SUMMARY: In 2025, UW-CTRI has produced:

  • 41 published papers or chapters (p. 1)
  • 3 papers in press (p. 10)
  • 46 presentations and posters (p. 10)
  • 12 new and active studies (p. 14)
  • 4 studies recently completed (p. 18)
  • Financials (p. 20)

THANK YOU: UW-CTRI is grateful to its partners, including Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), National Cancer Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs, Food and Drug Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute on Aging, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, UW Department of Family Medicine, UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, UW Carbone Cancer Center, UW Department of Medicine, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, UW Head and Neck Cancer SPORE, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Program and Wisconsin Division of Care and Treatment, Wisconsin Partnership Program and Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation.

Published Papers

Note: Names in bold are current UW-CTRI employees.

1. Afshar M, Resnik F, Joyce C, Oguss M, Dligach D, Burnside ES, Sullivan AG, Churpek MM, Patterson BW, Salisbury-Afshar E, Liao FJ, Goswami C, Brown R, Mundt MP. (2025) Clinical Implementation of AI-based Screening for Risk for Opioid Use Disorder in Hospitalized Adults. Nature Medicine. Online April 3, 2025.

      Summary: Compared to patients who received provider-initiated consultations, patients identified for addiction medicine referrals by AI screening and who received consultations had 47% lower odds of being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after their initial discharge. This reduction in readmissions translated to a total of nearly $109,000 in estimated health care savings during the study period.

      2. Baker TB, Kaye JT, Piasecki TM. (2025) Theory-Based Strategies to Enhance Interventions for Smoking: Relevance to a Digital Intervention. Behaviour Research and Therapy. Online June 28, 2025.

      Summary: This article proposes a novel smoking behavior modification treatment targeting these theoretically-driven processes, an extended-use, digitally-assisted smoking interruption system, as an illustrative prototype.

      3. Bauer SE, Macrea M, Casey A, Dagil E, Eakin MN, Farber HJ, Gonzalez P, Hayes D, Hu SW, Kathuria H, Knight SL, Moraes TJ, Neptune ER, Piper ME, Skeen EH, Ueng CS, Upson D, Walley SC, Rao DR. (2025) Treatment of Nicotine Use in Adolescents Under 18 Years of Age: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 211;9. Online September 1, 2025.

      Summary: This expert panel provides evidence-based recommendations for treating nicotine use in adolescents 10 to 18 years of age.

      4. Betts JM, Baker TB, Bolt DM, Zwaga D, Piper ME, McCarthy DE, Schlam TR, Kaye JT, Johnson AL, Cook JW. (2025) Expanding the Scope of the Withdrawal Syndrome: Anhedonia as a Core Nicotine Withdrawal Symptom. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Online April 10, 2025.

      Summary: This study suggests that anhedonia (experiencing decreased pleasure from rewarding activities) may be a symptom of withdrawal from regular smoking. Further, the study shows that the greater the anhedonia people experience when trying to quit, the less likely they are to quit successfully. This supports further investigation into anhedonia as a symptom of nicotine withdrawal and as a clinical target for smoking treatments.

      5. Brouwer AF, Shafie-Khorassani F, Benowitz N, Shi N, Baker TB, Hayes-Birchler T, Piper ME. (2025) Urinary Tobacco and Nicotine Exposure Biomarkers as Predictors of Transitions Between Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use in The Exhale Longitudinal Cohort Study. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. Online August 20, 2025.

      Summary: Urinary tobacco biomarkers were non-linearly associated with transitions in tobacco product use and may guide the development of clinical interventions to promote harm-reducing product use transitions.

      6. Cioe PA, Stang GS, Azam D, Piper ME, Kahler CW. (2025) Preloading with Nicotine Replacement Therapy in People with HIV who Smoke: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Online June 6, 2025.

      Summary: Preloading with nicotine patch among people with HIV (PWH) who smoke prior to the target quit date may be an effective means of improving adherence to medications to quit smoking both before and after the quit date. By increasing self-efficacy and lowering dependence, “preloading” may improve quit rates and help reduce the burden of tobacco-related disease among PWH. Further research is needed.

      7. Cofresí RU, Piasecki TM, Bartholow BD. (2025) Alcohol Insensitivity and the Incentive Salience of Alcohol: Two Decades of Work Relevant to Future Directions of the Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment. Translational Psychiatry. 15, 50. Online February 14, 2025.

      Summary: In their recent article in this journal, colleagues reported evidence that the Incentive Salience (IS) domain within the proposed Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment (ANA) framework is represented by variance in alcohol motivation and alcohol insensitivity. The authors shared their similar lab findings in the interest of accelerating discovery in this area.

      8. Cofresí RU, Upton S, Terry D, Brown AA, Piasecki TM, Bartholow BD, Froeliger B. (2025) Inhibitory Control in The Sober State as a Function of Alcohol Sensitivity: A Pilot Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Study. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 19. Online February 28, 2025.

      Summary: A deficit in inhibitory control (IC) – the ability to withhold a strongly-learned behavioral response when cued to do so – is thought to be a risk factor for substance use disorders. Young adults with a low sensitivity (LS) to the effects of alcohol, a group at-risk for heavy drinking, showed behavioral performance equivalent to that of participants high in alcohol sensitivity on an IC task. However, LS individuals, especially those who report more craving for alcohol in daily life, appeared to achieve this performance via compensatory over-activation of certain frontocortical nodes in the IC brain circuitry. Future research is needed to test whether this over-activation is associated with problematic drinking and whether therapies targeting these regions improve drinking outcomes.   

      9. Cofresí RU, Keerstock S, Kohen CB, Piasecki TM, Bartholow BD. (2025)  Alcohol Approach–Avoidance Task Behavior and Brain Potentials Differentially Predict Ecologically Assessed Alcohol Craving and Consumption in Early Emerging Adulthood. Addiction. Online November 25, 2025.

      Summary: Incentive salience toward alcohol may influence alcohol seeking (including craving) and alcohol consumption through distinct behavioral risk pathways in different people.

      10. Garner BR, Tueller SJ, Bradshaw M, Speck KJ, Satre DD, Rash C, Donohoe T, Mungo J, Philbrick S, Ruwala R, Roosa MR, Zehner M, & Ford JH II. (2025). Using Incentivization as a Strategy to Improve Implementation of a Motivational Interviewing Brief Intervention for Substance Use Disorders in HIV Settings: Results of a 26-Site Parallel Groups Cluster-Randomized Type-3 Hybrid Trial. Implementation Research and Practice. Online December 5, 2025.

        Summary: Researchers examined ways to improve the use of evidence-based services to help people address their substance use in HIV practice settings. They recommend the use of a combination of Implementation and Sustainment Facilitation strategies. These include training, feedback and consultation as well as monetary incentives for staff.

        11. Fathi JT, Cinciripini PM, DePrimo MJ, Houston TP, Kathuria H, Park ER, Pua BB, Roelke TM, Taylor KL, Toll BA, Zeliadt S, Kazerooni EA, Smith RA, Ostroff JS. (2025) The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable Strategic Plan: Tobacco Treatment in the Context of Lung Cancer Screening. Cancer. Online September 10, 2025.

          Summary: Lung cancer screening provides an unprecedented opportunity to reach adults who smoke cigarettes to deliver evidence-based tobacco treatment to promote smoking cessation. There are multilevel barriers to the implementation of tobacco treatment in the context of lung cancer screening.

          12. Garner BR, Tueller SJ, Bradshaw M, Speck KJ, Satre DD, Rash C, Donohoe T, Mungo J, Philbrick S, Ruwala R, Roosa MR, Zehner M, Ford JH II. (2025) Using Incentivization as a Strategy to Improve Implementation of a Motivational Interviewing Brief Intervention for Substance Use Disorders in HIV Settings: Results of a 26-Site Parallel Groups Cluster-Randomized Type-3 Hybrid Trial. Implementation Research and Practice. Online December 5, 2025.

            Summary: Researchers sought to improve the use of evidence-based, substance-use disorder services in HIV practice settings. They recommend implementing a combination of Implementation and Sustainment Facilitation strategies with training, feedback and a consultation strategy (as well monetary incentives for staff).

            13. Jones KC, Kearney LE, Jansen E, Walkey AJ, Cordella N, Kathuria H, Steiling K. (2025) Understanding Patient Perspectives on Digital Smoking History Data Collection. Chest Pulmonary. 3(3) 100180. Online May 19, 2025.

              Summary: Lung cancer screening eligibility depends on accurate smoking history, yet incomplete EHR data pose challenges. Interviews with patients about digital surveys revealed barriers such as preference for clinician updates, technology issues and mixed views on the value of accurate records. These findings underscore the need for education, flexible data collection options and support to improve uptake of patient-generated health data.

              14. Johnson AL, Contrera Avila J, Christensen L, Fahey MC, Jang J, Jarvis S, Rojewski A, Rubenstein D, Kleykamp BA. (2025) Smoking Cessation Efficacy and Impact on Health Outcomes among Middle-aged and Older Adults: A Scoping Review. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. Online June 6, 2025.

                Summary: A scoping review of 44 studies was conducted on smoking cessation treatment efficacy and its impact on health outcomes among middle-aged and older adults who smoke. Six-month cessation rates ranged from 13% to 52%. Most studies did not stratify by age, but those that did suggested older adults achieved cessation rates equal to (or exceeding) younger adults with combined intervention of counseling and cessation medications.

                15. Johnson AL, Bui TC, Bullen C, Businelle M, Carroll DM, Correa-Fernández V, Pickner W, Spears CA, Vickerman K, Vidrine DJ, Hooper MW, Bold KW. (2025) Engaging Specific Populations With Tobacco-Related Health Disparities in Treatment Research: A Summary of a Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Treatment Research Network Preconference Workshop. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 27(5):937-941. Online April 22, 2025.

                  Summary: The authors provided advice on ways we might better address tobacco-related health disparities through engagement strategies and tailoring of treatment. While some advice was unique to the expertise of a particular population, there were some common points across populations.

                  16. Kaye JT, Betts JM, Brubaker E, Webster K, Beckham JC, Baker TB, Cook JW. (2025) Behavioral Activation for Smoking Cessation in Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. Online March 11, 2025.

                    Summary: In this randomized clinical trial, Behavioral Activation for Smoking Cessation did not improve quit rates more than an attention-control condition when each was paired with standard cessation counseling and medication and delivered to US veterans with PTSD. Smoking treatment was not associated with psychiatric symptom exacerbation, addressing a common concern of patients and providers alike.

                    17. Kaye JT, Williams BS, Conner KL, Bird J, Adsit R, Piper ME. (2025) Wisconsin Young Adults’ Attitudes, Beliefs, Motivations and Behaviors Surrounding E-Cigarettes Use and Cessation. Wisconsin Medical Journal. 2025;124(2):129-134. Online June 30, 2025.

                      Summary: Young adults in Wisconsin who vape completed a survey assessing attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about e-cigarettes. Strategies to reach, motivate, and engage young adults to quit vaping should be sure to highlight their main concerns: Addiction, costs, health harms, and offering their desired treatment options. Treatment preferences revealed there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Cannabis vaping was prevalent (~40%) and is an important area for future research is to examine the impact of cannabis vaping on nicotine vaping dependence, cessation, and treatment use.

                      18. Kim N, Kirsch J, Millevolte R, Oguss MK,Fraser DL, Kate Kobinsky, Piper ME, Cook JW, Schlam TR, Baker TB, Fiore MC, Kathuria H, McCarthy DE. (2025) Representativeness of Electronic Referral to Smoking TreatmentTrials in Adult Primary Care. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Online February 22, 2025.

                        Summary: Electronic referral of adult primary care patients who smoke to smoking cessation and reduction trials via electronic medical records may enhance referral of high-priority populations (e.g., African American patients and those eligible for Medicaid) to studies of tobacco treatment. Relaxing inclusion criteria for these studies may enhance representation of people from minority populations and other disadvantaged patients in treatment trials.

                        19. Kim N, Kaye JT, McCarthy DE. (2025) Disparities in Receipt of Tobacco Cessation Advice among U.S. Adult Healthcare Patients Who Use Tobacco. AJPM Focus. Online August 30, 2025.

                          Summary: According to data from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only 52% of them recalled receiving tobacco cessation advice from healthcare providers. Rates of receiving quitting advice were lower among people who use alcohol or cannabis, as well as among those with cannabis use disorder, men, minoritized racial/ethnic groups, those with incomes below $30,000 and those in urban areas.

                          20. Leone FT, Barrosse-Antle M, Bars M, Crotty-Alexander LE, Dresler C, Iaccarino J, Ibrahem M, Kathuria H, Lang AE, Rich ZC, Sheikh M, Stepp EL, Stover-Pepe D, Studdard JE. (2025) Critical Gaps in the Scientific Basis for Electronic Cigarette Regulation: An American College of Chest Physicians Research Statement. CHEST. Online November 14, 2025.

                          Summary: Associations between vaping and respiratory symptoms, mood disorders, attentional disturbances and poor academic performance underscore the need for research into non-cardiac/non-malignant health risks. The panel recommends a focused research agenda addressing pragmatic trials of access restrictions, detailed evaluation of nicotine delivery limits, investigation of non-cardiac/non-malignant risks and quantification of aerosol toxicity.

                          21. Liu J, Baker TB, Chen J, Smock N, Griffith N, Ramasmamy G, Goldberg P, Thold J, Daly K, Reddy J, Ramsey AR, Bierut LJ, James A, Schnoll R, Brownson R, Chen LS. (2025) Patient Generated Health Data: Impact On Promoting Patient-Centered Point Of Care Tobacco Treatment In Patients With Cancer. Journal of Clinical Translational Science. 9(1):e114. Online April 28, 2025.

                          Summary: Patient-generated health data (PGHD) via patient portal appears to be a feasible, acceptable, scalable and cost-effective approach to promote patient-centered care and tobacco treatment in cancer patients. Importantly, the PGHD approach serves as a real-world example of cancer prevention leveraging the Translational Science Benefits Model.

                          22. Nam Jk, Yang JJ, Ran S, Piper ME, Buu A. (2025) Bidirectional Relationships Between Sleep Quality and Nicotine Vaping: Studying Young Adult E-Cigarette Users in Real Time and Real Life. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Online March 5, 2025.

                          Summary: Data from real-time measures completed in real life showed that vaping interfered with sleep and that waking up more in the middle of the night increased negative emotions and craving to vape the following day. Using the smartwatch and app to monitor sleep and vaping increased participants’ awareness of these behaviors, which could be used to motivate vaping cessation.

                          23. Nieto A, Zhang C, Zhu W, Reese C, Piper ME, Benowitz NL, Blount BC, Bhandari D. (2025) Assessing the Urinary Cyanoethyl Mercapturic Acid to Cotinine Ratio for Classifying Tobacco Use Status in a Longitudinal Cohort of Cigarette, e-Cigarette and Dual Users. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Online October 24, 2005.

                          Summary: Based on data from UW-CTRI’s Exhale Study, a longitudinal cohort of exclusive smokers as well as a group who both smoked and vaped, researchers found a novel approach to decipher whether participants had smoked, vaped or both. This approach is using 2CyEMA, a marker of smoke exposure. However, given the novel nature of this urine test, it appears primarily suited for research at this point, as the test was conducted by analytic chemists at the CDC.

                          24. McClure EA, Piper ME, Crotty Alexander LE, Burnham EL, Freeman TP, Galiatsatos P, Lange AD, Lee DC, Leone FT, Melzer AC, Mermelstein J, Montgomery L, Rabin RA, Smith DM, St Helen G, Weinberger AH, Kathuria H. (2025) Effects of Inhaled Tobacco and Cannabis Co-Use on Respiratory Health and Tobacco Cessation. An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement. American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine. Online August 22, 2025. 

                          Summary: This statement outlines and guides a research agenda on the effects of inhaled tobacco-cannabis co-use on tobacco cessation and lung health. Recommendations include adopting harmonized terms and minimum data elements; studying the prevalence of co-use among populations experiencing tobacco-related disparities; evaluating the impact of co-use on tobacco cessation pharmacotherapies; and assessing the effects of co-use.

                          25. Miller AP, Spychala KM, Fromme K, Slutske WS, Gizer IR. (2025) Binge Drinking Trajectories Across Adolescence and Early Adulthood: Associations with Genetic Influences for Dual-Systems Impulsive Personality Traits, Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol Use Disorder. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. 134, 775–789. Online August 21, 2025.

                          Summary: Genetic influences that underly sensation seeking and alcohol consumption explain the unique variation in the emergence and escalation of binge drinking during adolescence and emerging adulthood, highlighting the multifaceted genetic etiology of these developmental trajectories.

                          26. Musto JA, Piasecki TM, Smith J, Slutske WS, Fiore MC, Lucey MR. (2025) Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Is Associated with Less Adverse Outcomes Compared to Non-Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease In Patients with COVID-19. Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. Online July 30, 2025.

                          Summary: In this large cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the presence of liver disease increased the odds of all tested adverse outcomes with a mortality gradient that correlated with the severity of liver disease. When compared to liver disease not related to alcohol, alcohol-associated liver disease was associated with reduced odds of mortality, assisted ventilation and ICU admission.

                          27. Piasecki TM, Slutske WS, Bolt DM, Jorenby DE, Piper ME. (2025) Effects of Very Low Nicotine Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Patches on Daily Own-Cigarette Abstinence in a Randomized Controlled Switching Trial. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Online January 31, 2025.

                          Summary: During two separate switch weeks, participants were instructed to abstain from smoking their own cigarettes and switch to using their study product (if assigned one). Switching effects were bigger with Very Low-Nicotine Cigarettes (VLNCs) and vapes relative to no product. Switching effects were comparable with VLNCs and vapes. The switching effect was smaller during the second vs. first switching sequence.

                          28. Piper ME, Kaye JT, Piasecki TM, Yang JJ, Buu A. (2025) Cannabis Use Among Adults Who Smoke Tobacco: Relations with Switching from Combusted Cigarettes to E-Cigarettes or Very Low Nicotine Cigarettes. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Online August 5, 2025.

                          Summary: Despite cannabis use being illegal, more than 1/3 of participants reported past 30-day use. Cannabis co-use reduced the likelihood of trying to quit smoking. Cannabis co-use reduced switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes or VLNCs.

                          29. Piper ME, Betts JM. (2025) Smoking Behavior and Environmental Cues: The Importance of Time and Place. JAMA Network Open. 8;(9):e2530139. Online September 29, 2025.

                          Summary: Collecting data via smart phones has extended research on drug cues in real time. Authors point out that Muzekari et al. helped readers understand the link between tobacco retailers and tobacco ads at one point in time and cigarette craving and smoking the next hour. Though it falls short of establishing causality, the study did use novel tech to show that the high density of tobacco retailers in low-resourced neighborhoods may perpetuate smoking.

                          30. Salloum RG, Montague M, Minion M, LeLaurin JH, Lee JH, Ramly E, Liu G, Reid M, Bylund CL, McCarthy DE, Shelley D, Ostroll JS, Warren GW. (2025) Sustainment of Tobacco Use Treatment Programs Across National Cancer Institute–Designated Cancer Centers. Cancer Medicine.14(22):e71424. Online November 26, 2025.

                          Summary: Results confirm that most of the 47 participating cancer centers sustained key functions and partnerships to help patients quit smoking. There were increased tobacco treatment rates across larger cancer treatment settings.

                          31. Shiyanbola O, Maurer M, Piper ME, Bolt DM, Sharp LK, Ouayogode M, Fisher E. (2025) Optimizing Diabetes Management Interventions For Black And Hispanic Adults Using The Multiphase Optimization Strategy: A Randomized Mixed Methods Factorial Trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials. 149:107804. Online January 4, 2025.

                          Summary: The authors write that their findings will identify the optimized intervention, e.g., comprising medication therapy management or community health workers or both intervention components, that effectively and efficiently improves diabetes outcomes among Black and Hispanic adults with uncontrolled diabetes, informing dissemination.

                          32. Shoenbill KA, Ostroff JS, Taylor KL, Jafarinia A, Minion M, Chichester LA, Omernik B, McCall M, Yeung S, Wiseman K, Chen LS, Salloum RG, Warren G. (2025) Recommendations for Standardization of Tobacco Use Treatment Data. Journal of Thoracic Oncology. S1556-0864(25)02835-7. Online September 25, 2025.

                          Summary: A Metrics Standardization Workgroup met to create a data dictionary and make recommendations for standardized quality measurement, program evaluation and tobacco treatment program development. The proposed standardized data definitions can improve communication and measure effectiveness for tobacco use treatment, research, operational performance, policy, quality improvement and guideline development.

                          33. Spychala KM, Yeung EW, Miller AP, Slutske WS, ACTION Consortium, Wilhelmsen KC,  Gizer IR. (2025) Genetic Risk for Trait Aggression and Alcohol Use Predict Unique Facets of Alcohol-Related Aggression. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. 2025 Feb;39(1):63-75. Online June 6, 2024.

                          Summary: These results provide preliminary evidence that genetic influences underlying alcohol use and aggression are uniquely associated with alcohol-related aggression and suggest that these associations may differ by type and frequency of alcohol-related aggression incidents.

                          34. Thiele A, Dresler C, Kathuria H, Arendt-Manning M, Southard C. (2025) Access to Tobacco Cessation is a Human Right and Essential for the Endgame. Tobacco Induced Disease. May 6;23:10. Online May 8, 2025.

                          Summary: The authors assert that, while 21 municipalities in the US have already passed endgame bills to ban tobacco sales to the next generation and they are being considered in the UK and South Australia, human rights obligations demand that any government passing this tobacco endgame legislation must work with the healthcare system—from insurers to systems to clinicians—to offer opt-out evidence-based treatments.

                          35. Tohmasi S, Baker TB, Heiden BT, Chen J, Craig EJ, Griffith NB, Smock N, Reddy J, Colditz GA, Govindan R, Bierut LJ, Chen L-S. (2025) Smoking Cessation and Mortality Risk in Cancer Survivorship: Real-World Data From a National Cancer Institute–Designated Cancer Center. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 23;10. Online October 13, 2025.

                          Summary: Compared with patients who never smoked, those who currently or previously smoked had increased risk of all-cause mortality. Postdiagnosis smoking cessation is associated with improved survival rates, including those with advanced-stage cancer. Systematically providing support to quit smoking should be provided to all cancer survivors who smoke, irrespective of cancer type or stage.

                          36. Webster MA, Burris JL, Cipri C, Lenhoff K, Bird J, Hayes RB, Sheffer C, Khanna N, Minion M, Tong EK. (2025) A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy as a Strategy to Promote Tobacco Treatment Equity at Cancer Center Cessation Initiative Sites. Supportive Care in Cancer. 34(1):17. Online December 9, 2025.

                          Summary: Results highlight both significant heterogeneity and shared factors in how cancer centers might implement free nicotine-replacement medication programs. Barriers to implementation and sustainability underscore enduring challenges to providing gold standard tobacco treatment to all patients with cancer who use tobacco. Future research should investigate how to best provide equitable access to tobacco treatment among this population.

                          37. Welch A, Patterson MS, Whilshire C, Kathuria H, Gilbert C, Gorden J. (2025) Ego Networks Associated With E-Cigarette Use Among College Fraternity Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of American College Health. Online January 2, 2025.

                          Summary: Researchers studied 212 male participants and their “ego networks,” defined as a representation of the social relationships between each individual (ego) with their social peers (alters). They found that perceived positive reactions from important friends more accurately predicted participants’ vaping than the actual vaping by these important friends. Additionally, participants rated caregivers (physicians and pharmacists) as trusted sources of health information, but not family and friends.

                          38. Williams BS, Fiore MC, Hyland A, Slutske WS. (2025) Vaping Cessation Methods Used by Young Adults. JAMA Network Open. 8(5). Online May 29, 2025.

                          Summary: When young adults do try to quit vaping nicotine, they generally aren’t using medications or formal programs to do so. Of the 855 PATH participants who attempted to quit vaping and were 18 to 24 years old, only 20 percent succeeded. Nearly 30 percent speaking with friends or family. Eleven percent substituted other nicotine products. About 10 percent used a program (usually via a smartphone or tablet) and only 1.7% used prescription medications.

                          39. Williams BS, Kaye JT, Conner KL, Bird J, Adsit R, Piper ME. (2025) Wisconsin Adolescents’ Attitudes, Beliefs, Motivations and Behaviors Surrounding E-Cigarettes Use and Cessation. Wisconsin Medical Journal. 2025;124(2):144-147. Online June 30, 2025.

                          Summary: There were 227 Wisconsin residents aged 13-17 surveyed in this study and Most of our survey sample never vaped (76.2% reported having never vaped), reporting concerns with health effects and addiction as motivations preventing initiation. Among adolescents who used e-cigarettes, friend use was the main motivation for initiation and mental health symptoms promoted ongoing use. Motivations for quitting included health harms, cost and addiction.

                          40. Williams BS, Kaye JT. (2025) Vaping Cessation Methods Used by Adolescents. JAMA Pediatrics. Online July 7, 2025.

                          Summary: In 2021-2023, of adolescents who vaped: 36% reported daily or near-daily use; 50% attempted to quit in the past year; 34% intended to quit in the next 6 months; few used support to quit: 9-16% apps, 4-6% nicotine replacement therapy, 2-4% prescription medications.

                          In Press

                          1. Chakraborti Y, Yucel R, Piper ME, Mennis J, Alberg AJ, Baker TB, Coffman DL. Time-Varying Path-Specific Direct and Indirect Effects: A Novel Approach to Unpacking Dynamic Behavioral Processes with Application to Smoking Cessation. Multivariate Behavioral Research. 
                          2. Kathuria H, Kaye JT. Rethinking Smoking: Cannabis, Tobacco and Lung Cancer. CHEST.
                          3. Shi N, Piper ME, Baker TB, Shafie Khorassani F, Hayes-Birchler T, Brouwer AF. Continuous Associations of the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives with Transitions Between Cigarette and E-cigarettes Use. Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

                          To search a sortable database of all UW-CTRI papers since inception, click here.

                          Research Presentations and Posters

                          Note: Names in bold are current UW-CTRI employees.

                          1. Bates-Pappas G, Chichester LR, Hayes R, Burris JL, Tong E, Kotsen C, Hernandez R, Jones A, Minion M, Ostroff J. (2025) Overcoming Language Barriers for Delivery of Tobacco Treatment Among Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Cancer Patients–A Pilot Study Conducted Within the Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I). Presentation. Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science (CCIS) Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA. February 2025.
                          2. Cioe PA, Stang GS, Azam D, Piper ME, Kahler CW. (2025). Preloading with Nicotine Patch For 21 Days Does Not Improve Smoking Cessation Outcomes in People with HIV Who Smoke Cigarettes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Poster. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          3. Cook J. Lessons Learned from Conducting Tobacco Treatment Trials in Healthcare Settings. Clinical Trials Community of Practice March Meeting. Online. March 2025.
                          4. Gorrilla A. Addressing Tobacco Use: A Critical but Overlooked Component for Treatment and Relapse Prevention. Opioid, Stimulants and Trauma Conference. Baraboo, WI. May 2025
                          5. Gorrilla A. Addressing Tobacco Disparities: Strategies for Treatment and Relapse Prevention. National Commission on Correctional Healthcare Conference. Louisville, KY. April 2025.
                          6. Johnson AL. Pre-Conference Workshop #3: Moving the Needle on Impact: Implementation Strategies and Applications in Tobacco Treatment. Moderator for symposium. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          7. Johnson AL, Jarvis S. Motivating Change in Aging Smokers (MCAS): A Pilot Study of Motivational Messages. Poster. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          8. Johnson AL, Jarvis S. Motivating Change in Older Adults: A Pilot Study of Motivational Messages to Promote Quitting Smoking. Paper presented at the 2025 Midwest Clinical and Translational Research Meeting. Chicago, IL. April 2025.
                          9. Johnson AL. Culturally Specific Motivational Messages to Promote Smoking Cessation in Black or African American Older Adults. Presentation. National Conference on Tobacco or Health. Chicago, IL. August 2025.
                          10. Kathuria H. Best Practices for Promoting Tobacco Cessation. Presentation. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Webinar. January 2025.
                          11. Kathuria H. Challenges in Tobacco Control: Nicotine Concentrations, Synthetic Nicotine and Flavorings. Co-chair for symposium. American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. May 2025.
                          12. Kathuria H. Proactive Smoking Cessation Assistance in the Context of Lung Cancer Screening. Presentation. American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. May 2025.
                          13. Kathuria H. Insights on Vaping’s Public Health Challenges, Policy Efforts and Findings From Recent Clinical Studies. Presentation. American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. May 2025.
                          14. Kathuria H. Tobacco Treatment: Effective Interventions and Strategies in Clinical Settings. Presentation. UW Department of Medicine Grand Rounds. Madison, WI. May 2025.
                          15. Kathuria H. Equity in Action: Tobacco Use Disorder Treatment in Criminal Justice Systems. Presentation. National Conference on Tobacco or Health. Chicago, IL. August 2025.
                          16. Kathuria H. Discussing Harms and Benefits of Cannabis with Confidence. American Society of Addiction Medicine Regional Conference. Milwaukee, WI. September 2025.
                          17. Kathuria H. How to Integrate and Provide Smoking Cessation Services in Lung Cancer Care. Go2 for Lung Cancer. Denver, Colorado. October 2025.
                          18. Kathuria H. Tobacco Treatment: Evidence-Based Interventions and Strategies in Clinical Setting. Baystate Health Medical Grand Rounds. Springfield, MA. October 2025.
                          19. Kathuria H. Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Risks of Cannabis Use and Cannabis Co-Use with Tobacco. American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Virtual Presentation. November 2025.
                          20. Kathuria H. Accelerating & Communicating Progress in Lung Cancer: Tobacco Treatment Update. American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable. Atlanta, Georgia, December 2025.
                          21. Kaye JT, Baker TB, Fiore MC, Piper ME, McCarthy DE, McClure EA, Cook JW. Cannabis use patterns, attitudes and beliefs among primary care patients who smoke tobacco cigarettes. Presentation. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          22. Kaye JT, Baker TB, Fiore MC, Piper ME, McCarthy DE, Cook JW. Offering Motivation-Phase Treatment to Primary Care Patients Who Smoke Increases Treatment Acceptance but Decreases Cessation Treatment Acceptance. Poster. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          23. Kaye JT, Bolt DM, Cook JW, Piper ME, Baker TB. Validating New Smoking Withdrawal Assessments In Unmedicated Individuals Who Smoke: The Wisconsin Smoking Withdrawal Scales. Poster. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          24. Kaye JT. New Directions in Tobacco Cessation Research: Data Precision and Innovative Therapies. Chair. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          25. Kaye JT, Barkholtz H, Chen M, Bhatnagar R, Kathuria H. Cannabis Health & Medicine Panel. Presentation. UW-Madison Cannabis Research Conference. Madison, WI. April 2025.
                          26. Kaye JT, Gorrilla A. Improving Tobacco Treatment for Justice-Involved Veterans. Presentation. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Veteran Justice Program National Teleconference. April 2025.
                          27. Kaye JT, Fiore MC, Baker TB, Zehner M, Piasecki TM, Slutske WS, McCarthy DE. Bringing NCI’s Moonshot Cancer Center Cessation Initiative to UW Carbone Cancer Center: A Pilot Centralized Proactive Outreach Approach to Offer Tobacco Treatment for Patients with Cancer. Poster presented by Mark Zehner. UW Department of Medicine Research Day. Madison, WI. June 2025.
                          28. Kaye JT, Fiore MC, Baker TB, Zehner M, Piasecki TM, Slutske WS, McCarthy DE. Bringing NCI’s Moonshot Cancer Center Cessation Initiative to UW Carbone Cancer Center: A Pilot Centralized Proactive Outreach Approach to Offer Tobacco Treatment for Patients with Cancer. Presentation. UW Department of Medicine Research Day. Madison, WI. June 2025.
                          29. Kaye JT. Tobacco Addiction, Treatment, and People with HIV: Tools, Support, and Hope. Presentation. Chicago HIV Breakfast Club. Chicago, IL. October 2025.
                          30. Kaye JT. Tobacco Use and Treatment Among People Who Use Alcohol and Cannabis. Presentation. HEALTH-FAST and STRONGER Scholar Programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX. November 2025.
                          31. Kearney LE, Reboussin BA, Denlinger-Apte RL, Sutfin EL, Jebai R, Kathuria H, Ross JC. Characteristics Associated with Blunt Use Among Black/African American Young Adults Who Smoke Cigarillos. Poster. American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. May 2025.
                          32. Montague M, Minion M, Ramly E, Liu G, Lee J, Reid M, LeLaurin J, Ostroff J, Shelley D, Warren G, Salloum R. (2025) Tobacco Treatment Program Sustainability at NCI-designated Cancer Centers. Presentation. Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science (CCIS) Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA. February 2025.
                          33. Piper ME, Carpenter M, Brouwer A, McClernon F, Klemperer E. Transitions Into and Out of Dual Use of Combustible and E-Cigarettes: Implications for Public Health. Discussant for presentations. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          34. Piper ME, Herrmann E, Compton W, Thanh Hai M, Klemperer E, Sweitzer M, Freedman N. Beyond Point-Prevalence Abstinence: Alternative Outcomes for Interventions for People Who Smoke. Part of symposium, Novel Endpoints in Combustible Cigarette Smoking Intervention Trials. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          35. Piper ME, Conner K, Lathen L, Johnson AL, Kathuria H. How to Build a Community Advisory Board (CAB) Toward a PCORI Grant. Poster. National Conference on Tobacco or Health. Chicago, IL. August 2025.
                          36. Piper ME. Optimizing Interventions: Moving Beyond the Kitchen Sink Approach to Develop Effective Smoking Cessation Interventions in Primary Care. Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) Distinguished Lecture Series. Presentation. Charleston, SC. September 2025.
                          37. Piper ME. The Diversification of the Tobacco Industry: Public Health Challenges and Clinical Approaches. Grand rounds presentation. Hennepin Healthcare Department of Medicine. Minneapolis, MN. November 2025.
                          38. Piper ME. Optimizing Interventions: Moving Beyond the Kitchen Sink Approach to Develop Effective Smoking Cessation Interventions in Primary Care. Tobacco Research Program Seminar Series at the University of Minnesota. Presentation. Minneapolis, MN. November 2025.
                          39. Raymond O, Riska K, Priya A., Dew S, Kasidi J, Kathuria H, Pack Q. Can a Nurse Practitioner Intervention Increase Guideline-Concordant Smoking Cessation Medications at Hospital Discharge? Poster. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          40. Reid M, Montague M, Anrecio S, LeLaurin J, Bylund C, Minion M, Shelley D, Ostroff J, Warren G, Salloum R. (2025) NCI-designated Cancer Center Identified Barriers and Strategies for Sustainability of Tobacco Treatment Programs. Presentation. Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science (CCIS) Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA. February 2025.
                          41. Schlam T. Smokers Who Relapse. Presentation. Mayo Nicotine Dependence Center-Truth Initiative 31st Nicotine Dependence Center Conference 2025: The Evolving Tobacco/Nicotine Landscape and Implications for Policy and Practice. Online. March 2025.
                          42. Stang G, Azam D, Piper ME, Kahler C, Cioe P. The Impact of Cannabis Use on Smoking Cessation in People with HIV: Evidence from a Recent Nicotine Patch Preloading Trial. Presentation. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          43. Thompson S. Integrating Tobacco Treatment and Smoke-Free Policies in State Substance Use Recovery and Treatment Standards. Poster. National Conference on Tobacco or Health. Chicago, IL. August 2025.
                          44. Williams B. E-Cigarette Quit Attempts by Adolescents. Poster. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2025.
                          45. Williams B. Adolescent Tobacco and Nicotine Product Use: An Update on Devices, Trends, Prevention and Treatment. UW-CTRI Outreach Webinar Series. Online. April 2025.
                          46. Williams B. E-cigarettes and Vaping: A Benefit, Curse, or Somewhere in Between. Wisconsin Society for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Health and Rehab Annual Conference. Wisconsin Dells, WI. April 2025.

                          New & Active Studies

                          1. Machine learning approaches to personalized cigarette smoking risk prediction in adults trying to quit. This Career Development Award from the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Drug Abuse will provide support for Dr. Jesse Kaye and a team of UW-CTRI researchers to explore how machine learning (a subfield of artificial intelligence, or “AI”) might help to personalize treatment in real time for people trying to address their tobacco use. Personalization of tobacco treatment may improve effectiveness, enhance sustained treatment engagement, and increase quitting success. Digital health tools have tremendous potential to enhance personalization of tobacco treatment and facilitate delivery of support relevant to an individual’s needs when and where it is most needed. At the beginning of treatment, digital tools may help integrate information on diverse risk and protective factors to personalize treatment selection (e.g., medication type) and planning (e.g., addressing modifiable risk factors). As treatment progresses, digital tools may help detect changes in risk to facilitate personalized treatment adjustments or just-in-time interventions. This K23 research will use sophisticated, high-dimensional data analytic approaches to account for the complexity of influences on smoking lapses and relapses during quit attempts, and to develop robust and effective personalized risk predictions and interventions. UW-CTRI researchers will apply state-of-the-art machine learning methods to rich existing smoking cessation clinical trial datasets (>3000 participants) to develop, train, and validate personalized smoking risk predictions. These smoking risk prediction models will form the foundation of a program of research to ultimately develop novel personalized feedback interventions that can efficiently provide the right treatment, for the right person, at the right moment in time. Dr. Kaye will receive mentorship and training from Drs. Danielle McCarthy, Tim Baker, Dan Bolt, Wei-Yin Loh, and Michael Businelle. September 2025 – August 2030. $1 million. K23 Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Jesse Kaye, PI.
                          2. Comparing Three Multicomponent Interventions to Help Adults Quit Smoking. Black Americans in Wisconsin and across the United States continue to face significant smoking-related health inequities that are exacerbated by menthol tobacco use and tobacco industry targeting. This study will examine the effects of three treatment packages for Black adults who want to quit smoking as part of a five-state study (in Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Virginia and Wisconsin). The 1500 participants will be randomized to one of the three treatment packages: Standard, Intensive, or Intensive Incentivized Package. The Standard Package will provide 4 counseling sessions and 2 weeks of nicotine patches, similar to a typical state-run quitline. The Intensive Package will provide 8 weeks of nicotine patches, 8 culturally specific counseling sessions (participants can choose whether to have in-person group counseling or individual phone counseling) and access to the Pathways to Freedom video (a video designed to help Black adults quit smoking) on the study website. The Intensive Incentivized Package will be the same as the Intensive Package and will also provide up to $50 in incentives for participants to attend counseling sessions. These three treatment packages were selected because the individual components have been shown to be effective among Black adults trying to quit smoking and because the study’s Community Advisory Board (CAB), with feedback from focus groups of Black adults who smoke, deemed them to be acceptable and feasible. The goal of this research is to determine whether the culturally specific packages being tested in this study will increase quit rates relative to the standard evidence-based package. Importantly, these treatments will not be provided in clinical settings but in the participants’ everyday lives and settings. The study will also investigate the best ways to engage Black adults in these low-barrier treatments. June 2025-June 2029. Total budget over five years of $10 million. Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Drs. Megan Piper and Hasmeena Kathuria, PIs.
                          3. Options 2 Study. (A Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Nicotine Pouches for Cigarette Substitution: A Question of Public Health) UW-CTRI is testing whether nicotine pouches can replace smoking among participants in a randomized comparative effectiveness study. Nicotine pouches—microfiber sachets containing powered nicotine but no tobacco leaf—are a new class of oral tobacco products rapidly growing in popularity. One popular brand is known as Zyn. However, we currently know very little about how readily people who smoke adopt nicotine pouches, how effectively pouches can substitute for cigarettes when participants are trying to avoid smoking, the importance of nicotine dose in effective cigarette substitution and the mechanisms that may promote or hinder product transition. To address these key gaps, researchers are enrolling 300 adults who smoke daily and are not planning to quit in the next 30 days. Participants are randomly assigned to one of four product conditions: 1) 3-mg nicotine pouches; 2) 6-mg nicotine pouches; 3) nicotine mini-lozenges (2- or 4-mg); or 4) no study product. Participants receiving a study product (nicotine pouches or nicotine mini lozenges) are asked to use them for four weeks, an initial experimentation week and then for a three-week switching trial where they are asked not to smoke their usual cigarettes and instructed instead to use their study product (if assigned one). Before and after the switching trial, participants come to the clinic following overnight abstinence and use their assigned product (if any) during a 30-minute sampling test to assess the duration of product use, subjective evaluations of study products and suppression of craving and withdrawal symptoms under controlled conditions. During the four weeks of the study, participants use a smartphone app to record, in real-time, each time they use cigarettes or a study product. For a random daily subset of use events, participants answer additional questions about the context of their use (e.g., affect, any restrictions on smoking) and potential mechanisms driving use (e.g., withdrawal alleviation, satisfaction). September 2024-August 2029. Total budget over five years of $3.8 million. R01 Funded by the National Cancer Institute, NIH. Drs. Tom Piasecki and Megan Piper, MPIs.
                          4. Avenues Study. (Dual Use Cessation: A MOST screening trial to identify effective interventions for people who smoke and vape) For people who both smoke and vape, there are new paths to help them address their relationship with nicotine. The goal of the research is to identify the most effective ways to help people who both smoke and vape to quit smoking. Researchers are recruiting 500 people who both smoke and vape. Participants are randomized to one of two levels of each treatment factor: Medications—participants get either varenicline or nicotine patch. Counseling approach—participants are either encouraged to just quit smoking (and keep vaping) or to quit both smoking and vaping. Counseling intensity—participants get either one coaching session or four sessions. Participants can earn up to $445 by completing the year-long study. Participants use smartphones to share information with researchers two weeks before and after their quit dates. Participants record smoking, vaping, medication use, craving levels, self-efficacy and other insights every evening. To date, no published studies have identified effective ways to help people who both smoke and vape to quit smoking. May 2024-May 2029. Total budget over five years of $4.3 million. R01 funded by the National Cancer Institute, NIH. Dr. Megan Piper and Dr. Tim Baker, MPIs.
                          5. Helping Young People Quit Vaping. (Addressing the Vaping Epidemic in Adolescents and Young Adults: Advancing our Understanding of Cessation Treatment and Engagement) More than 1.4 million adolescents and 4.7 million young adults in the United States report vaping, according to FDA and CDC’s National Youth Tobacco Survey. The majority never smoked cigarettes. The goal of this K08 training grant is to improve our understanding of how to engage adolescents and young adults in vaping cessation treatment and ultimately discover how best to help them to quit vaping. Dr. Williams and his colleagues examine youth and young adult perspectives on quit-vaping interventions such as This is Quitting. Williams plans to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of two enhancements to This is Quitting—financial incentives and FDA-approved medications. In addition, Williams uses data from the PATH Study to better identify predictors of quit attempts as well as success. April 2024-April 2029. Total budget over five years of $967,000. K08 Funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH. Dr. Brian Williams, PI.
                          6. Vape Check. (The Longitudinal Effects of E-cigarette Use on Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Health Study)This award continues a long-standing successful research collaboration between Drs. Jim Stein and Tim Baker as they examine the long-term effects of vaping on heart and lung health. Participants receive up to $675 for completing the 3-year study. They also receive individualized test results and updates on their health. Although prior studies have examined some of the physical effects of vaping, virtually all of these have examined very short-term or cross-sectional effects. In contrast, Vape Check follows people who vape over multiple years. Vape Check is helping to set the record straight regarding the health effects of vaping. September 2024-September 2029. Total budget over five years of $5.7 million. R01 Funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes. Drs. Tim Baker and James Stein, MPIs.
                          7. Salvation Army Study. UW-CTRI partners with the Salvation Army of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan on a new $6 million grant to evaluate sustainable strategies Salvation Army staff can use to connect their adult participants who use tobacco with the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line for free tobacco treatment.Wisconsin Salvation Army social service leaders, staff and participants play leading roles in planning, monitoring and adapting Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line connection implementation strategies so they fit well in the usual context of Salvation Army services. Specifically, they adapt two promising strategies supported by preliminary research. One promising strategy being evaluated in this project is an enhanced model of support for Salvation Army implementation teams. This is being compared against the usual UW-CTRI regional outreach support model in different Salvation Army service centers. The second strategy to be tested is focused on giving participants an incentive to talk with a Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line coach before they leave the Salvation Army. Salvation Army staff develop an incentive strategy that they can sustain long-term, such as extra food pantry access, to promote participant connections with Quit Line treatment. These incentives are designed to give participants who want to quit using tobacco someday a reason to act on that desire today and to give staff more confidence that they can interest participants in talking with the Quit Line. This application represents our commitment at UW-CTRI to address socioeconomic disparities in tobacco use and access to tobacco treatment through partnerships with community service, healthcare and other organizations. September 2024-September 2030. Total budget over six years of $6.1 million if fully implemented. UG3/UH3 Funded by the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Danielle McCarthy, PI.
                          8. Genes, Neighborhoods and Alcohol Misuse from Adolescence to Mid-adulthood in the Add Health Study.The project involves secondary analyses of data from the landmark National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a study that has prospectively followed 20,745 adolescents since 1994-95. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the link between the neighborhood in which one lives (e.g. whether one lives in a rural or urban community, in an area that is more or less disadvantaged) and alcohol involvement over the life course. The results of this study might support the development of neighborhood-level preventive and treatment interventions and might also suggest who would be especially aided by such interventions. September 2024-September 2028. Total budget over three years of $944,664. R01 Funded by NIAAA, Dr. Wendy Slutske, PI.
                          9. UW-CTRI Outreach Program–JUUL Settlement. This grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Program aims to help young adults (ages 18-24) quit vaping. UW-CTRI will develop a brief, scalable, online single-session intervention to help young adults quit vaping. This includes “selfie” videos by young adults who vape(d) to share their stories and advice in a user-friendly format. Young adults will influence the intervention content and presentation via focus groups and user-centered design principles. The primary outcomes will be engagement with the intervention as well as changes in key attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intention about quitting vaping. Karen Conner and Chris Hollenback coordinate aspects of these efforts. January 2024-December 2026, $386,000. Funded by the Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Program (CTPTP) of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WI DHS). Dr. Jesse Kaye, PI.
                          10. R35 Outstanding Investigator Award. This seven-year grant will empower UW-CTRI to identify and disseminate effective, innovative ways to help cancer patients quit smoking. Specifically, UW-CTRI researchers, led by grant PI Dr. Michael Fiore and Co-I Danielle McCarthy, will further evaluate innovative approaches to helping cancer patients who smoke to quit. They’ll advance knowledge regarding interventions and health-system changes that will support more patients living with cancer to break free from tobacco dependence. Research studies supported by this grant will identify effective interventions to help people with cancer quit smoking for good, as well as efficient and equitable ways to connect cancer patients with such treatments. UW-CTRI will work with diverse cancer-care programs across the nation to assist with implementing evidence-based smoking treatment for patients living with cancer. They’ll develop guides to disseminate the best strategies to cancer centers nationwide, such as the Tobacco Treatment Roadmap. The team worked with the American College of Surgeons and the Commission on Cancer to develop a new smoking cessation standard requirement for community cancer centers nation-wide beginning in 2026. UW-CTRI Researcher Mark Zehner and Mara Minion will manage the projects. December 2022-December 2029, $6.5 million. Funded by the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Michael Fiore, PI.
                          11. Motivating Change in Aging People Who Smoke.This K23 award funds a research study to increase smoking cessation in adults aged 50 and older. While these adults smoke at lower rates (8.2%) than the general population (13%), their cessation rates are also lower, in part because they are less likely to be advised to quit or offered help by providers. A common misperception is that mature adults can’t or won’t quit and, if they do, they won’t benefit from it. But the research reflects the contrary. When they do try to quit, they’re generally more successful than younger people, especially when they use evidence-based treatments (which double their success). The study runs qualitative interviews to look at what might motivate older adults to quit. One potential incentive is pointing out that quitting smoking can reduce risk for cognitive decline—commonly cited as the greatest fear among mature adults, but one yet to be used for motivation with smoking cessation. UW-CTRI recruits participants via signs, posters, calls from each person’s clinic and a letter to motivate and offer treatment. Researchers compare that to a clinic with no message and a clinic with a standard motivational method. The group plans to run the study at three clinics in the same health system. They’ll be tuned into any behavioral health symptoms and the socioeconomic status of the participants to better analyze and interpret results. Drs. Megan Piper, Carey Gleason, Jane Mahoney and Jessica Cook are serving as co-mentors to Principal Investigator Dr. Adrienne Johnson. May 2021-Feb 2026, $782,000. Funded by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Adrienne Johnson, PI.
                          12. At EASE Study: Although the VA Healthcare System offers nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to veterans not ready to quit, NRT only weakly affects long-term abstinence. Varenicline shows promise as a treatment for people who are not ready to quit but has never been compared with NRT and has not been evaluated among Veterans. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether varenicline is especially effective and cost-effective relative to NRT in Veterans who are willing to reduce but not quit smoking. This two-group randomized controlled trial will enroll 400 adults from three geographically diverse VA hospitals who do not want to quit smoking in the next 30 days but are willing to cut down. Participants will be randomized to one of two 12-week treatment groups: (1) varenicline, or (2) NRT (2 mg mini-lozenges). All participants will receive four phone counseling sessions focused on smoking reduction during the 12-week MPT. Any participants who decide to try quitting during the first 24 weeks of the study can request cessation treatment involving continued use of their assigned study medication and cessation counseling. The study team collaborates with participating VAs in Madison, Durham, Minneapolis and San Diego as well as the VA National Tobacco Use Treatment Program Office. January 2025-December 2029. $2.7 million. Merit Award funded by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, NIH. Dr. Jess Cook and Dr. Neal Doran, MPIs.

                          Recently Completed Studies

                          1. Smoking Treatment for Oncology Patients (STOP Cancer). UW-CTRI reached out directly to more than 500 UW Carbone Cancer Center patients who smoked to let them know about their tobacco treatment options. Patients were invited to join a research study comparing two active treatments to see which helped more people with cancer to quit smoking. The short-term goals of the STOP Cancer Study were to identify specific smoking treatment needs of patients living with cancer and then to adapt smoking cessation treatment outreach and counseling to address those needs. People who consented to enter the STOP Cancer Study were randomized to a standard care condition offering three counseling calls and two weeks of nicotine patch, or to an enhanced condition offering seven counseling calls tailored to cancer challenges with 12 weeks of varenicline, a non-nicotine pill to see which active treatment helped more people quit smoking. Patients not interested in the study got standard treatment from the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line or mobile health tools from SmokeFree.gov. The long-term objective of this work was to identify promising strategies to evaluate in larger-scale trials and then disseminate to cancer programs. This was part of the larger UW-CTRI effort to improve cessation treatment effectiveness and delivery for patients living with cancer. They found this proactive, opt-out approach to be feasible, sustainable and scalable. August 2023-July 2025, $510,000. Funded by the UW Carbone Cancer Center Head & Neck Cancer SPORE (Specialized Programs of Research Excellence) via the National Cancer Institute, NIH. Dr. Danielle McCarthy, PI.
                          2. Breaking Addiction to Tobacco for Health 2 (BREATHE 2). As part of their fifth consecutive, five-year NIH Center grant, researchers at the University of Wisconsin compared the most effective treatments to help people quit smoking in real-world clinics, with a goal of tailoring and optimizing help to people who smoke. UW-CTRI partnered with health systems to treat more than 4,000 clinic patients. They contacted patients who smoked per the electronic health records to help those who are ready to quit and to motivate those who aren’t. About 25 million people who smoke in America make a primary care visit each year, but only about five percent of people who smoke who try to quit use the cessation counseling and medication we know can help. In this study, the research team contacted them and offered these treatments. May 2019-May 2025, $12.5 million. Funded by the National Cancer Institute, NIH. Drs. Timothy Baker and Michael Fiore, PIs.
                          3. Treating Nicotine Addiction in Caregivers of Children at American Family Children’s Hospital. The study team made nicotine-replacement medications and coaching available to parents who smoked during their children’s hospital stay. The very acute goal was to keep parents at the bedside to support their children, limit or eliminate leaving bedside to smoke outside and thereby reduce third-hand smoke exposure for child inpatients and their care team. To date, there was limited evidence on how to effectively intervene with caregivers who smoke during a child’s hospitalization. The study team offered this support to parents at American Family Children’s Hospital, treating up to 50 adults while supplies lasted. Following consent, participants completed a pre-intervention survey on a study tablet using well-established, validated smoking-assessment questions. Participants received $20 for completing the initial survey. They received another $20 for completing a second survey at discharge. The study team followed up with parents via phone two weeks later to encourage a smoke-free policy in their cars and homes, to offer support for quitting smoking and to answer final survey questions for an additional $20. October 2023-September 2024, $15,871. Funded by the University of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics Faculty R&D Grant. Dr. Brian Williams, PI.
                          4. Veteran Smokers Health Study. The US Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a Merit Award to Dr. Jessica Cook to evaluate a chronic care smoking intervention designed to help Veterans who are initially not ready to quit smoking. The study (N=503), which was conducted at the Madison VA, compared a chronic care intervention (designed to motivate and prepare veterans to make quit attempts) with a standard care intervention (involving one offer of a cessation treatment per year). The chronic care intervention involved providing repeated motivational interventions and interpersonal support over the two-year study period while offering treatment options for those ready (and not ready) to quit. The study, implemented by VA researchers Elana Brubaker and Kirsten Webster, used proactive outreach to recruit Veterans whose medical records indicated they used tobacco. It involved remote treatment delivery to help reach veterans living in rural areas. They completed data collection and the study team plans to conduct analyses to determine whether chronic care increases quit attempts, treatment use and abstinence relative to standard care. January 2019-September 2025, $1 million. Funded by the VA. Dr. Jess Cook, PI.y, the development of increasing heart rate observed in this study suggested that there may be time to intervene in real time before someone relapsed back to vaping.