A major new UK research project will investigate how long-term vaping affects the respiratory system, as scientists aim to close the knowledge gap around the health impact of e-cigarettes.
The University of Birmingham has received £1.46 million in funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to lead the four-year EVALUATE study, which will explore the biological effects of vaping on the lungs and immune system. The work builds on the university’s internationally recognised research into e-cigarette science and will begin recruiting participants this autumn.
The project will examine how vaping influences airway immune cells, epithelial cells, and the microbiome - key factors in respiratory health and disease development. Researchers will collect samples from the blood and airways of participants to assess both direct and indirect effects of vaping.
“This study will provide critical data needed to understand the safety of vaping as a short-term smoking cessation strategy and in longer-term usage so people can make an informed personal choice,” said Dr Aaron Scott, Associate Professor in Respiratory Science and chief investigator of the EVALUATE study.
The study will also investigate how toxicants - chemicals formed by the breakdown of e-liquids - accumulate in the lungs. Earlier research from Birmingham’s team found that some toxic components in e-cigarette vapour can affect immune cells independently of nicotine, raising questions about their long-term impact.
Professor Luis Mur of Aberystwyth University, who will lead the toxicant analysis, said his team will use “cutting-edge mass spectroscopy platforms” to monitor changes in airway toxicants as people move from smoking to vaping.
The EVALUATE project will run alongside a complementary clinical trial exploring vaping’s effects in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Industry welcomes focus on evidence-based research
VPZ, the UK’s largest vaping retailer, has welcomed the new study as a positive step toward improving understanding of vaping’s long-term impact.
“We welcome the news that researchers from the University of Birmingham are launching a long-term study into the effects of vaping on former smokers,” said Jamie Strachan, Operations Director at VPZ.
He added that evidence-based research is essential for shaping harm reduction policies and supporting adult smokers who want to quit.
“For more than a decade, vaping has played a crucial role in helping millions of smokers transition away from cigarettes. Numerous independent studies, including those from Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians, have concluded that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking. However, continued research is vital to deepening our understanding of its long-term effects,” he said.
Strachan said VPZ supports “transparent, science-led discussions” that help policymakers, healthcare providers, and consumers make informed decisions about vaping and smoking cessation.
“At VPZ, we remain committed to supporting adult smokers who want to quit, while ensuring our products are never marketed or sold to non-smokers or under-18s,” he added.
The University of Birmingham team expects the EVALUATE study to deliver new insights into the biological effects of vaping, helping clarify both its potential benefits and risks — and ultimately guiding public health advice and regulation in the years ahead.