Nicotine and Tobacco Research Team (NTRT)

The mission of the Nicotine and Tobacco Research Team (NTRT) is to promote NIDA nicotine and tobacco research interests, primarily across the Institute and NIH; to serve as a clearinghouse of information to NIDA staff on timely information related to nicotine and tobacco research (including Tobacco Regulatory Science); to inform the addiction research community on NIDA activities relating to nicotine and tobacco; to assist NIDA management in evaluating the nicotine and tobacco research portfolio; and to identify and support new research programs and directions as they relate to nicotine and tobacco.

The Core Group of NTRT Program Staff have the majority of the nicotine and tobacco portfolio and serve as a resource to investigators for inquiries regarding research in this area at NIDA. They represent a cross section of expertise such as pre-clinical, clinical, drug development, behavior, services, treatment, and epidemiology.

Goals of the NTRT include:

  • Invite speakers to present at NIDA, either in-person or via Webcast. Topics would be rotated across all areas of research supported by NIDA, including: basic neuroscience, behavior, clinical research, therapeutic development, epidemiology, and prevention.
  • Provide networking opportunities between NIDA program staff and the nicotine and tobacco research staff of NIH IC’s and other HHS organizations (e.g., NCI, NHLBI, NIAAA, NICHD, FDA, and SAMHSA).
  • Meet regularly with NIDA leadership to discuss the NIDA nicotine and tobacco portfolio, ongoing issues, and identify gap areas to further explore.
  • Plan and conduct Pre-Conference Workshops and/or Symposia Sessions at the SRNT Annual Meeting, possibly in collaboration with other NIH IC’s and/or FDA CTP staff.  
  • Distribute the Nicotine & Tobacco Research Team (NTRT) NEWSLETTER, which includes notifications of high-profile research publications, changes in tobacco regulation, seminars, meetings, funding opportunity announcements and related updates. 

Membership in the NTRT is open to all NIDA extramural and intramural staff.  If you would like to join and/or receive the Nicotine & Tobacco Research Team (NTRT) NEWSLETTER, please contact Flair Lindsey, flindsey@nida.nih.gov

For questions about the Nicotine and Tobacco Research Team, please contact either of the co-chairs, Mary Kautz, kautzm@nida.nih.gov, or Kevin Walton, kevin.walton@nih.gov.  

Core Membership

Investigators considering to apply for NIDA research grants pertaining to nicotine and tobacco are encouraged to contact the relevant Program Staff to discuss their proposal in relation to NIDA research priorities.  You can also review the NIDA strategic plan, which discusses the Institute's research priorities.

Name Program Staff Title Branch Division Areas of Expertise
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Will Aklin
Aklin, Will
Program Officer Clinical Research Grants Branch Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequence
  • Behavioral treatments (targeting specific neurobehavioral processes)
  • Theory-derived treatment targets and mechanisms of behavior change, adherence, neuromodulation
  • Integration of behavioral/ pharmacological and technology-based treatment
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Beth Babecki
Babecki, Beth
Training Coordinator Office of the DNB Director Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
  • Institutional and individual research training grants (T32, F30, F31 and F32 awards)
  • Career development awards (K01, K03, K06, K99/R00)
  • Research education grants (R25)
  • Nicotine and tobacco research
  • Basic and clinical research with focus on chemistry, genetics, behavior and functional neuroscience
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Dr. Wilson Compton
Compton, Wilson
Deputy Director Office of the Director Office of the Director
  • Population sciences (epidemiology, comorbidity, health services)
  • Research training
  • Research workforce diversity
  • Health disparities research
  • NIDA and FDA PATH Study
  • DHHS Tobacco Control Committee
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MeLisa Creamer
Creamer, MeLisa
Health Scientist Administrator

Epidemiology Research Branch

Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research
  • Epidemiology and surveillance of tobacco use
  • Marketing, point-of-sale, social media
  • Cognitive and affective factors related to tobacco use.
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John Fedota, Ph.D.
Fedota, John
Program Officer Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Branch Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
  • Cognitive neuroscience and neurobiological mechanistic investigation of nicotine use disorders
  • Focus on studies employing neuroimaging (MRI, EEG, others) and non-invasive brain stimulation
  • Disease trajectory and manipulations of nicotine state (sated/abstinent)
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Dr. Marcy Fitz-Randolph
Fitz-Randolph, Marcy
Medical Officer Services Research Branch Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research
  • Tobacco and nicotine use in the context of polysubstance use
  • Implementation science related to smoking cessation services provision
  • Mobile and digital technology supporting smoking cessation
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Evan Herrmann
Herrmann, Evan
Health Scientist Administrator Clinical Research Grants Branch  Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences
  • Human behavioral pharmacology of nicotine/tobacco
  • Smoking behavior, and clinical trials focused on treatment development
  • Behavioral economic and smoking topography assessments
  • Interactions between nicotine/tobacco and other medications/other drug use
  • Smoking cessation medications development research
  • Smoking during pregnancy/smoking cessation interventions targeting people who are pregnant
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Mary Kautz
Kautz, Mary

Director, NIDA Tobacco Regulatory Science

Program Officer

Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Branch Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
  • NIH-FDA Tobacco Regulatory Science Program (TRSP) Liaison
  • Human and animal studies on behavioral, cognitive, and neurobiological antecedents of exposure to nicotine and other drug use
  • Mechanisms underlying consequences of the various phases of substance use
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Heather Kimmel
Kimmel, Heather

The PATH Study Director at NIH

Program Officer

Epidemiology Research Branch Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research
  • Epidemiology of tobacco use comorbidity with psychiatric disorders
  • Polysubstance use
  • Genetic and environmental risk factors
  • Marketing, point-of-sale, social media, and risk perceptions
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Rik Kline
Kline, Rik

Branch Chief

Director, NIDA Drug Supply Program

Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Branch Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences
  • NIDA Drug Supply Program
  • Therapeutic development for drug use treatment
  • Contracts aimed at creating cGMP active pharmaceutical ingredients for human clinical trials
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Flair Lindsey
Lindsey, Flair
Program Analyst Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Branch Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
  • NIH-FDA Tobacco Regulatory Science Program (TRSP)
  • TRSP career development awards (K01, K99)
  • Nicotine and Tobacco Research Team (NTRT) newsletter, web page and group
  • Research training
  • Health disparities
  • Workforce diversity
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Lizette Nkongho
Nkongho, Lizette
Scientific Program Manager Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Branch Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
  • NIH-FDA Tobacco Regulatory Science Program (TRSP)
  • Neuropsychological effects of tobacco/nicotine products using EEGs
  • NIDA Drug Supply Program (Nicotine Research Cigarettes)
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Jonathan Pollock
Pollock, Jonathan
Branch Chief Genetics, Epigenetics, and Developmental Neuroscience Branch Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
  • Genetics of substance use disorder
  • Genetics and epigenetics of nicotine dependence
  • Pharmacogenomics of smoking cessation.
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Alexa Romberg
Romberg, Alexa
Program Officer Prevention Research Branch Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research
  • Adolescent and young adult vaping and tobacco use
  • Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about tobacco products and use
  • Mass media health communication campaigns; Digital advertising
  • Survey design
  • Cognitive and developmental psychology
  • Learning and attention
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Tsai, Shang-Yi (Anne)
Tsai, Shang-Yi (Anne)
Program Officer Integrative Neuroscience Branch Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
  • Cellular and molecular neurobiology of addiction
  • SUD-related neuroinflammation in animal models.
  • Neuroimmue mechanisms as therapeutic targets for SUD and comorbidities.
     

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 Vemuri, Kiran

Program Officer Chemistry and Pharmacology Branch Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
  • Organic Synthesis
  • Chemical Biology
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Tool/Probe Development
  • Therapeutics Discovery
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Dr. Kevin Walton, Ph.D.
Walton, Kevin
Branch Chief Clincial Research Grants Branch Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences
  • Clinical trials evaluating new therapeutics or treatment paradigms for smoking cessation
  • Repurposing of approved therapeutics
  • Neuromodulatory/neurostimulatory treatments
  • Integrated pharmacologic and behavioral therapies
  • Co-morbid conditions
  • Electronic cigarettes for harm reduction and nicotine cessation.

Tobacco Regulatory Science Program (TRSP) Funding Opportunities Announcements (FOAs) and Notices

  • The Tobacco Regulatory Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) - RFA-OD-21-002
  • Secondary Analyses of Existing Datasets of Tobacco Use and Health (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - RFA-OD-21-003
  • Maximizing the Scientific Value of Existing Biospecimen Collections (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - RFA-OD-21-004
  • Notice of Intent to Publish the Reissuance of RFA-OD-20-008 Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K01 non-clinical trial) - NOT-OD-22-081.
  • Notice of Intent to Publish the Reissuance of RFA-OD-20-011 Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K01 clinical trial required) - NOT-OD-22-082.
  • Notice of Intent to Publish the Reissuance of RFA-OD-20-009  Pathway to Independence Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K99/R00 non-clinical trial) - NOT-OD-22-083.
  • Notice of Intent to Publish the Reissuance of RFA-OD-20-010 Pathway to Independence Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K99/R00 clinical trial) - NOT-OD-22-084.

Other Funding Opportunities and Notices

  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and Alternative Nicotine & Tobacco Delivery Systems: Basic Mechanisms of Health Effects - Notice of Special Interest - NOT-OD-22-022
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and Alternative Nicotine and Tobacco Delivery Systems: Population, Clinical and Applied Prevention Mechanisms of Health Effects - Notice of Special Interest - NOT-OD-22-023
  • Public Policy Effects on Alcohol-, Cannabis-, Tobacco-, and Other Drug-Related Behaviors and Outcomes - Notice of Special Interest - NOT-AA-21-028 
  • Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Biospecimen Access (X01) - PAR-21-044 (X01)
  • Pilot Health Services and Economic Research on the Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use Disorders (R34 - Clinical Trial Optional) - PA-21-180 (R34)