Overview
Dr. James Davis is a practicing physician of Internal Medicine, and serves as the Medical Director for Duke Center for Smoking Cessation, Director of the Duke Smoking Cessation Program and Co-Director of the Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Credentialing Program. His research focuses on development of new pharmaceutical treatments for smoking cessation. He is principal investigator on several trials including a study on “adaptive” smoking cessation and several trials on new medications for smoking cessation. The new medications leverage more novel neurobiological mechanisms - NMDA receptor antagonism, nicotinic receptor antagonism, which impact addiction-based learning and cue response. Additionally, Dr. Davis serves as co-investigator on trials on lung cancer screening, e-cigarettes, minor nicotine alkaloids, imaging trials, lung function trials and others. Dr. Davis leads the Duke Smoke-Free Policy Initiative, is co-author on a national tobacco dependence treatment guideline, and provides training in tobacco dependence treatment for the Duke School of Medicine, Duke Internal Medicine, Family Practice and Psychiatry residency programs.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Professor of Medicine
·
2024 - Present
Medicine, General Internal Medicine,
Medicine
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2013 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
Population reach, feasibility and acceptability of digital therapeutics for smoking cessation among people living with HIV: Results of the Quitting Matters pilot trial.
Journal Article Drug Alcohol Depend · February 1, 2026 INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use is disproportionately prevalent among people living with HIV (PWH) and is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in this population. Reaching communities of PWH to facilitate smoking cessation is challenging. Digital ... Full text Link to item CiteReconsidering the blood-brain barrier: histopathology and microanatomy of cryptococcal CNS infection.
Journal Article Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · December 18, 2025 SUMMARYMeningoencephalitis is the most severe form of cryptococcal infection. Pathogenic cryptococcal species enter the body primarily via the respiratory system. The central nervous system (CNS) is by far the most common site of cryptococcal dissemination ... Full text Link to item CiteCorrection to: Smoking reduction using electronic nicotine delivery systems in combination with nicotine skin patches.
Journal Article Psychopharmacology (Berl) · December 2025 Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
DELFI - Investigating the Clinical Utility of DELFI L301 Evaluation of Lung Cancer Screening
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Delfi Diagnostics, Inc. · 2023 - 2028CASCADE - Lung
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Delfi Diagnostics, Inc. · 2022 - 2027Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Tobacco Cessation Training
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services · 2025 - 2026View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine ·
1997
M.D.
External Links
CV James Davis 2019 Video - Duke Smoking Cessation Program Duke Smoking Cessation Program Duke Medicine Profile Duke Cancer Institute Profile Smoking Cessation Interventions Duke Center for Smoking Cessation Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program Duke Faculty Spotlight