Family Medicine assistant professor Leah Ranney, PhD, Director for the Tobacco Prevention and Evaluation Program (TPEP), and Jennifer Cornacchione-Ross, PhD, Assistant Professor at Wake Forest School of Medicine, received an NIH (R01) three-year award in the amount of $1.2 million for the research study Strengthening Cigar Warnings to Prevent Adolescent Use.
The study seeks to improve the effectiveness of warnings for little cigars and cigarillos (LCCs) among youth who currently use, have ever used, or are susceptible to using LCCs, especially Black/African American youth. Scientific findings will provide novel and necessary evidence regarding the effectiveness of LCC warnings and will inform efforts to strengthen warnings through larger warning size and added images. Ultimately, this research can be used to reduce LCC use among youth and lessen tobacco-related disparities. Co-investigators and key researchers include: Adam Goldstein, MD, MPH, Director of Tobacco Intervention Programs, Sarah Kowitt, PhD, MPH, Jim Thrasher, PhD, MA, MS, (University of South Carolina), Chris Wiesen, PhD, MA, MEd (statistician), and Kristen Jarman, MSPH, Associate Director for TPEP.
To learn more about the UNC Tobacco Intervention Programs, based in the Department of Family Medicine, visit: med.unc.edu/fammed/tobacco/