Upcoming Projects.

The Center recently completed a phase 2 trial with NicVAX®, an investigational vaccine being developed to treat nicotine addiction and prevent smoking relapse. Results from the phase 2 trials demonstrated efficacy in support of long-term smoking abstinence. We have begun recruitment for the phase 3 clinical trial of this groundbreaking approach to nicotine dependence. If found successful, the vaccine could become part of a new generation of smoking cessation treatments. This trial is funded by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals.

Hookah, or waterpipe, use is widely practiced in the Middle East and North Africa and is rapidly gaining popularity in the US and Europe. There is a misconception that hookah is less harmful than cigarette smoking. Our preliminary work reveals that carbon monoxide levels generated during a typical hookah session are about 10-fold levels generated by smoking a cigarette.

Our work now is to develop standardized techniques for measuring human exposure and machine-smoked emissions from hookah. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health.