Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded the Regents of the University of Minnesota a $621,549 Project Grant under the Cancer Cause and Prevention Research program (CFDA 93.393) for a five-year study commencing June 1, 2026 and concluding May 31, 2031. The research will evaluate how nicotine pouch characteristics influence tobacco product use patterns, particularly in the context of menthol cigarette bans. The study employs an experimental marketplace approach to assess the acceptability and substitutability of nicotine pouches relative to medicinal nicotine and combustible cigarettes among menthol smokers, with specific focus on how flavor variants affect product appeal and switching behavior from conventional cigarettes to non-combustible alternatives.

The project addresses a critical gap in understanding emerging non-combustible tobacco products by investigating whether nicotine pouches—which present lower harm risk than combustible cigarettes—can serve as viable substitutes that reduce smoking prevalence without compromising complete cessation efforts. The research will generate evidence regarding consumer preference patterns for flavored versus unflavored pouches and quantify the impact of menthol cigarette bans on pouch adoption rates, ultimately informing cancer prevention policy and public health strategy related to tobacco harm reduction and regulatory interventions.