Towards the elimination of tobacco-related health disparities through research

We have made little progress in reducing disparities in tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. Low socioeconomic status and some racial/ethnic minority groups suffer disproportionately from tobacco-related cancers. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has collaborated on initiatives to stimulate additional research that aims to address the tobacco epidemic among low socioeconomic status and racial/ethnic minority groups. This session highlights past and current NCI grants, contracts, and collaborations that aim to increase our understanding and eliminate tobacco-related disparities. Using NIH databases, we identified grants, contracts, and collaborative projects that have been funded since 2001. We reviewed the targets and outcomes of initiatives that address low socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minority groups, and the combination of these groups. Since 2001, the number of collaborative efforts and publications has increased in this area. Yet, there is still room for progress in increasing the number of grants that focus on tobacco-related health disparities, specifically those that address decreasing the gaps rather than just reducing smoking prevalence and secondhand smoke exposure. Most of these efforts were conducted through Tobacco Research Network on Disparities, co-funded by NCI and the American Legacy Foundation. Collaborative arrangements are an important tool for stimulating research. Additional steps needed to stimulate grants that aim to reduce the gaps will be discussed.