The globally respected Tobacco Control Research Group, part of the University of Bath’s Centre for 21st Century Public Health, hosted their annual Tobacco Industry Monitoring, Research and Accountability (TIMRA) course from 31 June to 4 July 2025.
This eighth edition of the course, held in person and online, brought together participants from across the globe for an intensive five-day training programme. Delivery of the annual course is a crucial part of TCRG’s mission to strengthen global tobacco control efforts with the ultimate aim of contributing to a decline in tobacco use.
The course is designed to equip professionals, particularly those working in low- and middle-income countries, with the skills and tools needed to monitor, investigate, and report on tobacco industry activities, in alignment with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
The 2025 course welcomed 28 in-person participants and 35 online participants representing 25 countries. The participants come from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, including academia, advocacy, law, civil service and medical professions such as dentistry.
Participants engaged in a dynamic mix of lectures, hands-on workshops, and peer-led learning sessions. This year’s curriculum covered investigative skills, AI and big data, international regulations, corporate influence on science, digital safety and strategies for impact and communications.
Dr Rob Branston, Co-Director of the Tobacco Control Research Group, comments:
This year’s TIMRA course was another great example of the international tobacco control community coming together to share experiences and exchange knowledge which will help to hold the tobacco industry accountable. Thanks to all of our team and external guests who helped put on another brilliant course and well done to all of our 2025 TIMRA participants for their engagement and contributions throughout the week.
Participants praised the course for its depth, relevance and for providing an opportunity to share the challenges they face in their countries and the ways in which they are tackling them. Previous TIMRA participants have gone on to build similar tobacco control training initiatives in their countries, developed new platforms to monitor tobacco industry interference in their regions and supported the development of local and national tobacco control policies.
A small number of scholarships to attend TIMRA were made available to participants from low- and middle-income countries who are unable to access alternative sources of funding as part of its grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Rika Suwardi, a 2025 course participant, summarises:
The tools and knowledge shared [at TIMRA]—especially on how to monitor and gather evidence of industry tactics—are incredibly valuable for us (for me personally). This is particularly important in countries where the government maintains warm ties with the tobacco industry.
People must know what tobacco industries are really up to, how they work, how they influence policy makers to undermine public health efforts. What I’ve learned will help me develop stronger communication strategies to support our advocacy work. I already have a few ideas that I’m eager to start implementing back home.