Title: Action on Smoking & Health - Programme Renewal
Funder: Cancer Research UK

Abstract: Background This proposal is the latest in a series of applications for 3-year grants from CRUK to provide funding for ASH’s entire programme of work. As each triennium brings new challenges and opportunities to further drive down smoking prevalence, this proposal includes new action areas as well as improving ASH’s mainstream activities. Aims The long-term aim is to end the tobacco epidemic, by achieving a smokefree future in all socio-economic groups by 2035, so no-one is left behind. This was set out in the 2016 ASH report Smoking Still Kills, the shared vision of ASH, CRUK and more than 120 endorsing organisations. Methods ASH’s strategy is (and always has been) underpinned by the scrupulous use of research conducted by leading scientists and specialists in the UK and around the world. This proposal includes five strands in a planned programme of work which facilitates ASH’s three core functions: 1. Campaigning: To press for particular concrete policy measures that will reduce the burden of addiction, disease, health inequalities and premature death attributable to tobacco. 2. Information: To change the climate of understanding, opinion and awareness about the “tobacco epidemic” through effective use of the evidence base. 3. Networking and coalition building: To engage and inform other organisations and persons in pursuing our information and campaigning work. Each of the five workstreams in the proposed programme of work for 2019 to 2022, which are set out below have specific objectives and deliverables which are included in the full application: 1) Maximise the impact of current tobacco control policies. 2) Secure improvements in tobacco control policies. 3) Secure improvements in tobacco control policies at international level which support the UK. 4) Prevent the tobacco industry from undermining tobacco control policy development and implementation. 5) Play a key role in setting the agenda for the media and the public on tobacco issues. The proposed activities in this application should not be considered a prescriptive work programme, as ASH needs to have the capacity to be able to react flexibly to changing political, economic and social circumstances as they arise. In this ASH is very different from traditional research organisations, so that the work programme will, by necessity, be outcome-focused and flexible, rather than prescriptive.

Lay abstract: Background This proposal is the latest in a series of applications for 3-year grants from CRUK to provide funding for ASH’s entire programme of work. As each triennium brings new challenges and opportunities to further drive down smoking prevalence, this proposal includes new action areas as well as improving ASH’s mainstream activities. Aims The long-term aim is to end the tobacco epidemic, by achieving a smokefree future in all socio-economic groups by 2035, so no-one is left behind. This was set out in the 2016 ASH report Smoking Still Kills, the shared vision of ASH, CRUK and more than 120 endorsing organisations. Methods ASH’s strategy is (and always has been) underpinned by the scrupulous use of research conducted by leading scientists and specialists in the UK and around the world. This proposal includes five strands in a planned programme of work which facilitates ASH’s three core functions: 1. Campaigning: To press for particular concrete policy measures that will reduce the burden of addiction, disease, health inequalities and premature death attributable to tobacco. 2. Information: To change the climate of understanding, opinion and awareness about the “tobacco epidemic” through effective use of the evidence base. 3. Networking and coalition building: To engage and inform other organisations and persons in pursuing our information and campaigning work. Each of the five workstreams in the proposed programme of work for 2019 to 2022, which are set out below have specific objectives and deliverables which are included in the full application: 1) Maximise the impact of current tobacco control policies. 2) Secure improvements in tobacco control policies. 3) Secure improvements in tobacco control policies at international level which support the UK. 4) Prevent the tobacco industry from undermining tobacco control policy development and implementation. 5) Play a key role in setting the agenda for the media and the public on tobacco issues. The proposed activities in this application should not be considered a prescriptive work programme, as ASH needs to have the capacity to be able to react flexibly to changing political, economic and social circumstances as they arise. In this ASH is very different from traditional research organisations, so that the work programme will, by necessity, be outcome-focused and flexible, rather than prescriptive.

Research activity codes: 3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING;3.5 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (PREVENTION)
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS;CARDIOVASCULAR;RESPIRATORY;STROKE