Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science | ODP

The multidisciplinary Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (TCORS) are a long-standing component of the Tobacco Regulatory Science Program. Made up of scientists with a broad range of expertise (e.g., epidemiology, economics, toxicology, addiction, and marketing), they generate critical research that informs the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulation of tobacco products. Over the course of three rounds of TCORS, NIH and FDA have funded 29 centers. To date, the TCORS have produced over 1,800 publications, many of which have been cited in proposed rules by FDA.

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 research
• A program for career development.

The most current round of TCORS, TCORS 3.0, continues the legacy of previous TCORS, providing important data on the following scientific domains related to FDA’s regulatory authority for tobacco products:

• Understanding tobacco product composition and design
• Approaches that test the toxicity of non-cigarette tobacco smoke, aerosol, or specific constituents
• Effects of tobacco product characteristics on addiction and abuse liability
• Short- and long-term health effects of tobacco products
• Understanding knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to tobacco product use
• Understanding how to effectively communicate the health effects of tobacco products
• Influences of tobacco marketing
• Understanding the impact of potential FDA regulatory actions.

In addition, through their career development and pilot project programs, the TCORS 3.0 help meet the continued need for investigators with the quality and breadth of experience necessary to conduct cutting-edge research related to the regulation of the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products.