UNC TCORS is one of seven institutions by the FDA Center for Tobacco Products in partnership with the NIH as part of the third cohort of the multidisciplinary TCORS, which will continue the work of providing scientific studies that inform FDA’s regulatory authority for tobacco products.

The theme of our UNC TCORS is building the science for effective regulation of and communication about tobacco products disproportionately used by priority populations – flavored tobacco products and e-cigarettes. This integrated set of four research projects seeks to understand the impact of regulations and communication campaigns on people who are disadvantaged by tobacco use disparities, including Black, lower socioeconomic status, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations, as well as youth and young adults.

Our ultimate goal is to further FDA and NIH efforts to protect public health through regulation of tobacco products. UNC TCORS’ research will provide essential evidence to guide the FDA as it implements bans on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, develops communication campaigns, and addresses the youth vaping epidemic.

Center Aims:

1. Develop and evaluate the impact of communication campaigns to discourage tobacco product use in diverse populations (Projects 1, 2, 4)
2. Understand the public health impact of flavored tobacco product bans in diverse populations and the conditions under which they are most likely to be most effective (Projects 2 and 3)
3. Build trainees’ capacity to contribute to the field of tobacco regulatory science through training, mentorship, and pilot funding for a diverse and multidisciplinary group of pre-doctoral fellows, post-doctoral fellows, and early-stage investigators (Projects 1-4, Career Enhancement Core)
4. Inform FDA regulation of menthol cigarette and flavored cigar bans and communication campaigns through active dissemination of TCORS scientific findings (Projects 1-4, Administrative Core).