Synopsis of 2005 US Research Symposium

For decades, the health effects of tobacco, tobacco smoke, and nicotine have been under scientific and public scrutiny. Despite the significant efforts of many dedicated investigators, numerous areas in tobacco science and health research remain under-represented. These areas include investigations concerning tobacco constituent toxicity, identification of intelligent biomarkers of harm, and patterns and etiology of cancers that arise as a result of tobacco-product-induced toxicity. Nearly 4000 compounds are either present in tobacco and tobacco-product packaging, or are a direct result of combustion of tobacco-based products. Of these compounds, only a relatively small proportion has been characterized in terms of potential adverse downstream influences on health. Thus, the keys for future tobacco science research are to: 1) identify each of the chemical constituents that result from usage of tobacco-based products; 2) determine their relative toxicity; 3) determine their effects on normal body chemistry and physiology; and, 4) investigate their global, long-range adverse effects on human health.

Thus, the Institute For Science And Health hosted a Research Symposium on February 17-18 2005 at the Renaissance Hotel-Airport in St. Louis, MO. titled " Biomarkers of Harm, Tobacco Toxicity, and Emerging Cancer Patterns and Etiology " . The symposium was intended to bring to the forefront, issues that are not currently being addressed by the scientific community. These issues included, but are not limited to, areas of epidemiology, genetic and environmental incriminating factors, and risk factors of emerging disease that result from tobacco product usage. Such emerging diseases include pancreatic, breast, prostate, and bladder cancer.

The conference also gave scientists an opportunity to engage in open dialogue and share information with peers on current research in Tobacco Science and Health. Keynote presentations were given by Drs. Stephen Rennard of the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Karam El-Bayoumy of the Penn State University School of Medicine's Cancer Center, Leslie Butler of the University of California in Davis, and Xifeng Wu from the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. Each presentation touched on various health aspects related to tobacco toxicity, biomarkers of host response, and cancer development and epidemiology.

Another valuable part of the event was the inaugural Dietrich Hoffmann Career Development Award competition sponsored by the Institute For Science And Health. This competition was developed to support and enhance the careers of young scientists performing needed research work on issues related to tobacco science and health. Four post-doctoral students and non-tenured professors gave oral and poster presentations on their recent work. The winner, Dr. Tong Chen from The Ohio State University, was awarded a $40,000 research grant to further her research efforts on identifying chemopreventive agents for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, a tobacco-related cancer. "It is my great honor to receive this award", stated Dr. Chen. "I have dreamt about having my own research funding for a long time. Now my dream comes true."

As part of her award, Dr. Chen will be attending the 2006 Research Symposium on Tobacco Science and Health to present new results obtained utilizing the funds received from the Institute.

Support for this conference provided by:

• Institute For Science And Health

Symposium Abstract Booklet

To download an Abstract Booklet from the 2005 Research Symposium (available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format) please click here.