Description of Collaborative Activity: |
The Tobacco Regulatory Science Program located in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Disease Prevention coordinates the trans-NIH collaboration effort with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products to conduct research that is needed to ensure that US tobacco regulatory actions and activities are based on sound and relevant scientific evidence. The U54 Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (TCORS) are the centerpiece of this NIH-FDA collaboration. The TCORS are expected to demonstrate research excellence and leadership in tobacco regulatory science that will contribute to the science base that FDA will use to develop meaningful product regulation, which will, in turn, reduce the toll of tobacco-related disease, disability, and death in the United States. Essential elements of the TCORS include at least three theoretically grounded, strong research projects with an integrative theme; an Administrative Core and other cores as needed; the ability to conduct developmental/pilot and time-sensitive research; and a program for career development. Nine TCORS, made up of scientists with a broad range of expertise (e.g., epidemiology, economics, toxicology, addictions, and marketing) are currently funded. |
