Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program

ABOUT US The Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) funds research that enhances understanding of tobacco use, prevention and cessation, the social, economic and policy-related aspects of tobacco use, and tobacco-related diseases in California. As one of three state agencies that work together towards the vision of a tobacco-free California, we aim to reduce the human and economic costs of tobacco use through innovative research and information dissemination. TRDRP works with the California Department of Public Health and Department of Education under the guidance of the Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee to ensure collaboration across all sectors of California's tobacco control community. In 2016, California voters approved Proposition 56, The Tobacco Tax Increase Initiative, which increased the cigarette surtax by $2.00 with equivalent increases on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. Revenue from the cigarette tax will be allocated to physician training, prevention and treatment of dental diseases, Medi-Cal, tobacco-use prevention, research into cancer, heart and lung diseases, and other tobacco-related diseases, and school programs focusing on tobacco-use prevention and reduction. In 1988, California voters approved Proposition 99, The Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act, which instituted a 25¢ per pack cigarette surtax. Five cents of each dollar collected supports critical tobacco-related research. TRDRP is solely funded through the tobacco tax and individual contributions. We support critically needed new priorities that represent gaps in funding by other agencies or are areas where other agencies are reluctant or unable to provide support. Since TRDRP's inception, we've funded more than 1200 research grants on tobacco-related studies, with 95 percent of our revenue going directly to funding research and education efforts. TRDRP revenue is used to make grants for California scientists and community researchers to find better ways to prevent and reduce tobacco use and its related diseases. TRDRP is administered by the Research Grants Program Office (RGPO) at the University of California, Office of the President. CORE VALUES We are committed to: - Tobacco-related science of highest quality and potential impact - Scientifically derived evidence to impact the public and policy-makers - Collaborative strategies to reduce disproportionate impact on communities - Advancing the careers of researchers from diverse backgrounds interested in tobacco-related research - Communicating research findings to a diverse array of stakeholders - Adapting to address critical new research needs - Strategic and judicious use of limited resources for highest impact STRATEGIC GOALS - To fund innovative research in high priority areas - To advance all areas of science to reduce tobacco-related health disparities experienced by California's most vulnerable populations - To systematically inform the California tobacco control community, the state legislature, and the California public about current research developments and findings - To strengthen and enhance the tobacco control and tobacco-related disease research infrastructure and human capital in California - To expand resources available for California's critical tobacco-related research effort