The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

The recent rapid growth of global tobacco control initiatives, both research and programmatic, has created a need for greater communication, collaboration and coordination among the many researchers, institutions and agencies. One way of achieving this is through technology and the use of on-line networks. This presentation will provide information concerning the Global Tobacco Research Network (GTRN). The Global Tobacco Research Network (http://www.tobaccoresearch.net) was established in 2003 with funding from the National Cancer Institute to serve as a mechanism to bring research organizations and individual researchers together to facilitate a progressive policy and research agenda that is supportive of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. A goal of the GTRN is to gather and to disseminate tobacco control research and policy information and to promote collaboration among tobacco control researchers. To learn more about the current state of global tobacco control, the GTRN has conducted a web-based assessment of the capacity building, educational and training and technology needs of the global tobacco control community who are attending the WCOTH. The results of the Global Assessment will be presented and include information on priority areas and highlights how technology can be used to build skills and expand tobacco control efforts in countries around the world.