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Tobacco Harm Reduction Network
In recent years, the tobacco industry has introduced a range of novel tobacco products marketed with explicit and implied claims that they deliver reduced levels of toxins when compared with conventional cigarettes. At the same time, public health scientists and policy makers have debated the potential of harm reduction options for persistent cigarette smokers, such as expanded use of cessation therapies. The 2001 Institute of Medicine report, Clearing the Smoke, offered qualified support for the concept of tobacco harm reduction but concluded that evidence is lacking about the effectiveness of any specific harm reduction strategies.
There is a critical need to establish research priorities and to standardize research methods for studying potential harm reduction products and strategies. Public health practice, policy, and regulation must be informed by transdisciplinary science that is translated in a timely manner. In order to promote scientific collaboration and dissemination, the National Cancer Institute's Tobacco Control Research Branch has established a Harm Reduction Network. The Network has four goals:
- Establish an independent scientific group to provide expertise and advice on tobacco harm reduction to policy makers, regulators, researchers, and consumers.
- Develop and maintain an infrastructure for transdisciplinary collaboration and communication.
- Develop a comprehensive strategy, including priority research areas, for assessing the impact of products and methods which may reduce exposure and harm from tobacco use.
- Coordinate the development of a data depository, mechanisms for data sharing, and provide guidance on analysis, synthesis and interpretation, to support transdisciplinary tobacco harm reduction science.
Tobacco Harm Reduction Network Flyer
Tobacco Research Network on Disparities (TReND)
The NCI has partnered with the American Legacy Foundation to develop and implement the Tobacco Research Network on Disparities (TReND). The mission of the Network is to understand and address tobacco-related health disparities by advancing the science, translating that scientific knowledge into practice, and informing public policy. TReND is designed to stimulate new studies, challenge existing paradigms, and address significant gaps in research on understudied and underserved populations. This is the only national research network on tobacco and health disparities that offers a unique forum for stimulating scientific inquiry, promoting scientific collaborations, and evaluating the scientific evidence of research. TReND includes diverse disciplines of researchers who seek to achieve the following goals:
- encourage collaborations among multiple research disciplines;
- serve as a forum for generating new ideas and research projects focusing on tobacco-related health disparities;
- establish a translation mechanism for communicating and interacting with other networks and community advocacy groups;
- promote the involvement and training of junior investigators and the participation of senior researchers in health disparities research; and
- provide scientific information and serve as a resource on tobacco and health disparities issues.
To access TReNDs Tobacco-Related Health Disparities public website, click on the following link: http://www.tobaccodisparities.org.
Further information regarding all TReND projects can be accessed via: http://cancercontrolcancer.gov/tcrb/trend/projects.html
TReND brochure (pdf)
Systems and Network Development Initiatives
Several projects have been funded to support the understanding of tobacco control systems (e.g., improving the progression of discovery to development, and to delivery) and the development of collaborative networks of scientists in order to improve communication and collaboration on tobacco control research in priority areas. Collaborations ensure that funds are used as efficiently and effectively as possible. In addition, networks create the opportunity for increasing transdisciplinarity across existing research grants and initiatives. Networks on tobacco products purported to reduce harm and disparities have been created and are progressing, and networks on surveillance/evaluation and cessation are planned.
Global Tobacco Research Network
In 2002, NCI began funding the Global Tobacco Research Network (GTRN) as a complement to the FIC International Tobacco and Health Research and Capacity Building Program. The GTRN is an information network of tobacco control researchers providing links to a database of tobacco-related research to facilitate communication and collaboration among scientists.
Youth Tobacco Cessation Collaborative (YTCC)
The Youth Tobacco Cessation Collaborative (YTCC) was formed in 1998 to address the gap in knowledge about what cessation strategies are most effective in assisting youth to quit smoking. Collaborative members represent major organizations that fund research, program, and policy initiatives related to controlling youth tobacco use.
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