The increase in popularity of electronic cigarettes among young people, age 18-24, is a concern worldwide. Locally, several community members reached out to the University of Iowa Research Pulmonary group looking for answers, but a clear response could not be provided due to the lack of research specifically on the usage and effects of e-cigarettes in youth.
Goal of pilot
This pilot project aims to answer the questions raised by community members and determine the risk factors and effects of e-cigarettes on the youth.
Project plan
To analyze the effects of e-cigarettes on the youth, this pilot project will establish novel imaging tools to study early cardiopulmonary manifestations associated with both conventional smoking and the use of e-cigarettes.
A clinical research study will recruit never smokers, e-cigarette smokers and combustible cigarette smokers, ages 18-24, to answer several questionnaires and perform pulmonary function tests, as well as a variety of novel lung imaging exams to determine the effects and differences of each group.
Collaboration with ICTS
The research team will utilize expertise from our Mobile Technology Lab and Engagement, Integration, and Implementation Core to engage with community members, plan focus groups and develop an advisory board of community members to help disseminate data.
Team members
Clinical Associate Professor, Internal Medicine-Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine
Director, Clinical Research Unit
Professor and Head, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health
Director, Environmental Health Sciences Research Center
Director, Advanced Pulmonary Physiomic Imaging Laboratory
Professor, Radiology
Professor, Internal Medicine
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Director, Laboratory of Quantitative and Dynamic MRI
Research Assistant Professor, Radiology-Division of Neuroradiology
Clinical Assistant Professor, Radiology-Division of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Imaging