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NCPC Pilot Grant Program

RESEARCH GRANT AWARDS 

The Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center is delighted to be in the postion of offering yearly research pilot grants from 2024 to 2027, following our funding renewal. This initiative looks to support exploratory research focused on tobacco and nicotine policy priorities, helping to lay the groundwork for larger, policy-driven research proposals suitable for Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) or other funding sources.

The funding, made possible by the TRDRP, will further the NCPC’s mission of addressing health equity issues related to tobacco use, particularly within the San Joaquin Valley. Some key aspects of NCPC’s commitment include:

Research and Advocacy: Impactful research and advocacy that is scientifically sound and attuned to the community needs of the region.

Community Engagement: Collaborate closely with local residents, policymakers, and collaborators to ensure that its efforts and policies are relevant to the challenges faced.

Education and Training: Through partnerships, aim to cultivate the next generation of health science leaders with a focus on tobacco control.

Policy Impact: Share research findings to shape local, state, and national tobacco and cannabis policies, aiming to lessen health disparities caused by these substances.

Capacity Building: Enhance the research and advocacy capabilities of advocates and collaborators, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to influence tobacco policy implementation and impact.

One award of up to $50,000 over 1 year is available for each of the next three years, and projects in all areas of relevance to the mission of NCPC will be considered and from all scientific disciplines. 

2025-2026 AWARD RECIPIENT   

  Dr. Colleen Naughton

Dept: Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Merced

"A Pilot for Estimating Smoking Prevalence in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Wastewater Based Epidemiology”

The overarching aim of this pilot project, which focuses on underserved communities in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV), is to complement current survey approaches with an innovative wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approach in which smoking prevalence is estimated based on target biomarkers measured in domestic wastewater. Knowing the true smoking prevalence in SJV communities is key to informing and assessing smoking control policies, and this study will be invaluable in helping the NCPC make accurate and research based local policy recommendations.