Meeting welcome

On October 25-26, 2010, the Tobacco Research Network on Disparities (TReND) held its final scientific meeting, Making the Difference in Tobacco-Related Health Disparities Science: TReND Progress, Process, and Opportunities for Future Investment, at the Pooks Hill Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland.

Over 125 researchers, advocates, and others with an interest in tobacco-related health disparities attended TReND's Capstone meeting on October 25-26, 2010. It was an opportunity to learn more about the science of reducing tobacco-related health disparities, network with others who are engaged in this work, and set an agenda for the next decade to continue efforts to reduce tobacco-related health disparities. Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Legacy, TReND was developed based on the shared belief that collaborative processes are needed to build research capacity to identify and resolve complex issues. Toward this end, the goals of the meeting were to:

1. Highlight the contributions of TReND research to increase our understanding of tobacco-related health disparities among minority racial/ethnic groups, low socioeconomic groups, and the intersection of these groups
2. Examine the implications of TReND research to other fields of behavioral, social science, and policy research.
3. Discuss the role of networks and network processes in scientific inquiry.
4. Refine opportunities for future investment to reduce tobacco-related health disparities.

The final culmination meeting of TReND marks the beginning of a new decade of exciting and much needed work in tobacco control. Despite advances in reducing tobacco use, it remains unclear as to why some groups are disproportionately impacted by tobacco. There is an urgent need to engage broad-based support and collaborations to reduce disparities and conduct meaningful research to inform decision-making processes, practice, and policies that facilitate health equity. We invite you to join the efforts of TReND and critically examine the field with an eye on not just reducing tobacco use and exposure overall, but reducing the disparities across race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status in the U.S. and around the world.

Warm regards,

Download a PDF of the meeting welcome.