Exploring the effects of nicotine on a range of health-related outcomes

Team: Jasmine Khouja, Robyn Wootton, Marcus Munafo, and collaborators from across the University of Bristol and University College London 

Overview: We are conducting many studies to explore the impact of regular nicotine use on the mind and body. Up to now, most research on nicotine has looked at the effects of nicotine in animals, among people who use tobacco products (like cigarettes) or among people who have had nicotine over a short time in a laboratory. Using an exciting new method, we’re able to use information from people who have smoked, to tease apart the effects of nicotine from the effects of everything else in a cigarette. 

The method is an extension of the Mendelian randomization method explained here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoTgfGotaQ4 

Outputs: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011157  

https://osf.io/n5qjg/files/osfstorage/6571ce8c5022f637c788eb24 

Funding: CRUK, MRC, Wellcome and more