If you want to quit smoking, we could help.

Project Quit is a research team at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) who are dedicated to improving treatment for smokers that want to quit the habit.

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What is Project Quit?

Many people want to quit smoking but think it’s too hard. The nicotine in cigarettes is a very powerful and addictive drug. For most people, quitting isn’t easy. Current statistics show that it can take a person 30 attempts before becoming successful in quitting and 1 in 20 smokers attempting to quit are successful without some form of help. The Project Quit team at MUSC is investigating ways on how to advance medical science in helping smokers quit.

After learning of the health consequences, most people who smoke want to quit, but a majority fail when they try to quit without help. They could have symptoms like irritability, depressed mood and trouble sleeping. Medication and/or counseling may be very helpful for smokers who want to quit.

There is no cost to you for participation, and if you qualify, you will be paid to participate. If you have questions about Project Quit’s research opportunities and how we could help you or a family member or friend, please call (843) 792-4097.

How it works

Regardless of your level of interest in quitting, participation in smoking research is important as it can help Project Quit learn more about tobacco use disorder. By understanding the addiction better, there could be greater gains in improving interventions to help those who want to quit. We have a comprehensive research team that focus on tobacco use disorder providing treatment and non-treatment research.

Interested smokers can contact the study team to learn about the active studies that are currently enrolling. Study personnel will ask some basic questions to see what study might be the best fit based on a person’s level of interest in quitting, age, and other factors. Safety is the team’s number one priority. If study participation is not the best option, staff will provide some other resources in the community for a smoker to access.

All services are at no cost, and we provide compensation for participation. Participants must provide informed consent. Contacting the Project Quit team does not obligate participation. Smokers under 18 must provide parental consent.

In The News

Project Quit Helps Smokers Kick The Habit

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Active Studies

See information on our current studies below. All studies are currently conducted through the Medical University of South Carolina.

Study Name:

A prospective trial of varenicline and incentives for tobacco cessation in adults

Study short name:

CAT

Lead Investigator:

Dr. Erin McClure

Recruiting:

Adult cigarette smokers (ages 18-40) who are interested in quitting smoking.

Study Summary:

The purpose of this study is to better understand tobacco quit outcomes using a well-known stop smoking medication called varenicline (also known as Chantix or apo-varenicline), cessation counseling, and financial incentives. We are also interested in how cannabis/marijuana and tobacco interact during a tobacco quit attempt (marijuana use is not required to participate). All enrolled participants will receive tobacco cessation treatment (medication and counseling) for 12 weeks.

To request more information about this study, click here.

This study has a second site in Pickens, SC. To request more information from our Pickens team, click here.

Study Name:

Clinical Outcomes of a Nationwide, Naturalistic E-Cig Trial

Study short name:

CONNECT Study

Lead Investigator:

Dr. Matthew Carpenter

Recruiting:

Current cigarette smokers age 21+ who have not regularly used e-cigarettes in the last 6 months.

Study Summary:

The purpose of this study is to measure changes in smoking behavior during and following sampling of an e-cigarette product. We are testing the effects of one specific e-cigarette (NJoy) on smoking behavior. The study involves 7 phone calls and 4 study visits over a 6 month period. *This study is not supported by the tobacco industry or any e-cigarette manufacturer*

To request more information about this study, click here.

Study Name:

Targeting Foundational Memory Processes in Nicotine Addiction: A Translational Clinical Neuroscience Study of a Retrieval-Extinction

Study short name:

Behavioral Memory Modulation in Nicotine Addiction (BMM Study)

Lead Investigator:

Dr. Michael Saladin

Recruiting:

Current cigarette smokers ages 25-64.

Recruitment Summary:

This study examines the use of smoking cues (pictures, videos, and obects) to change a person’s interest in smoking. This treatment study does NOT involve the use of study medication. Participants will complete 12 clinic visits over the course of 6 months.

Study Name:

RTMS Manipulates Imbalanced Drive-reward and Executive Control Circuitry for Smoking Cessation

Study short name:

N/A

Lead Investigator:

Dr. Xingbao Li

Recruiting:

Current cigarette smokers ages 18-60.

Study Summary:

The Brain Stimulation Lab is currently studying if an investigational brain stimulation device may be able to help with smoking cessation. All visits will take place at MUSC (downtown) including a screening visit with pre-treatment MRI, 3 weeks of treatment, a post-treatment MRI and one month follow up. Compensation will be provided.

What is a Clinical Trial?

A clinical trial is a research study that helps answer specific health questions. In a clinical trial, human participants help research scientists find treatments that work in people. These participants, or human volunteers, find new ways to improve health.

Learn more about clinical studies at clinicaltrials.gov.