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Mission
The mission
of TRDRP is to support research that focuses on the prevention,
causes, and treatment of tobacco-related disease and the reduction
of the human and economic costs of tobacco use in California.
Our
program goals are to fund excellent research addressing all aspects
of tobacco use; to widely disseminate the research findings through
a variety of media; to encourage and support new scientific infrastructures
and networks critical for a comprehensive approach to tobacco control;
and to serve as an information resource for those interested in
issues of tobacco control.
Background
In November 1988, California voters approved
Proposition 99, “The Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act
of 1988”, which instituted a 25¢-per-pack cigarette surtax.
This initiative specified that five percent of the revenue be deposited
into a Research Account, to be appropriated for research on tobacco-related
disease. The Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) was
established by passage of SB1613 (Chapter 1330 of the Statutes of
1989) in October 1989, and reauthorized by passage of AB816 in 1994
and AB3487 in 1996: “The Legislature hereby requests the University
of California to establish a comprehensive grant program to support
the research efforts related to the prevention, causes, and treatment
of tobacco-related diseases” (California Health and Safety Code, Section 104500-104545).
Proposition 99 specified that the Research
Account should be used to fund research on tobacco-related diseases
in California. The Legislature asked the University of California
to establish and administer a research program to facilitate the
elimination of smoking in California. Research supported by TRDRP
funds have been targeted towards studies that enhance the understanding
of the causes of tobacco-related diseases, and that lead to the
development of more effective interventions for their prevention
and treatment.
The programmatic goals of TRDRP are consistent
with the broader mission of Proposition 99, namely to reduce the
human and economic costs of tobacco use by reducing the incidence,
prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of tobacco-related diseases
in California.
The TRDRP enabling legislation called for
the appointment of a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to advise
the University on the direction and supervision of the research
program. Current SAC members represent major California organizations
involved in health research. Members are chosen by the Executive
Director - Special Research Programs from a list of nominees submitted
by the organizations represented on the SAC. Members serve for three-year
terms without compensation, and are prohibited from seeking funding
from TRDRP while on the SAC. The SAC is charged with developing
the strategic objectives and priorities of the program, and with
making final recommendations on which research grants should be
funded, based on the established priorities and the scientific merit
of the proposals as determined by peer review panels.
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