The Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG), started by Professor Anna Gilmore, has achieved real impact, particularly on tobacco policy in the UK and globally, thanks to its excellent research publications and the Tobacco Tactics website. 

The commercial sector and its impacts on health

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer are already responsible for almost 70% of global deaths, and that figure is rising. Many of these diseases are driven by the consumption of unhealthy products (tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks, junk foods), meaning that these deaths are largely preventable. The companies who manufacture, promote, and sell these products are therefore key influencers of population health and their behaviour must be closely examined.

Our research

Through our research, we:

• explore how companies seek to influence science and policy
  
• evaluate the effectiveness and impact of public health policy
  
• map environmental, social and economic impacts across global supply chains
  
• analyse corporate claims of interest in harm reduction, including CSR programmes and the development and marketing of products
  
• use digital analysis and big data to explore corporate online footprints and networks of influence
  
• investigate bribery and corruption in the tobacco industry, including its involvement in the illicit tobacco trade
  
• help to build capacity in the global tobacco control community.

Read the TCRG statement on newer nicotine and tobacco products.

Our projects and partners

We work closely with national and international NGOs, policy makers and other organisations such as the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat. We provide evidence to parliamentary inquiries, ministerial and inter-ministerial meetings, and work extensively with the media. 

TCRG created and runs TobaccoTactics, a knowledge exchange platform. TobaccoTactics is a unique resource, providing rigorous academic research and monitoring data on the tobacco industry and its allies. The site attracts thousands of users from across the world including researchers, policy makers, journalists and advocates.

We are part of STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog.

Read more about our projects and partnerships.

Our members

Our members include staff and PhD students from across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Management. 

Recognition for our achievements

Our work has been recognised through numerous awards and accolades – see the full list here.