BAT Hosts Successful CORESTA Global Tobacco Science Conference in Edinburgh

On October 17, British American Tobacco (BAT) announced on their official website that the CORESTA Global Congress on Tobacco and Related Products Science was successfully held at the Edinburgh International Conference Center from October 13th to 17th. The event was hosted by BAT, and it brought together over 500 representatives from more than 30 countries, including businesses, research institutions, laboratories, associations, and regulatory bodies. The participants gathered to discuss the prospects of harm reduction in tobacco.

The conference, themed "Advancing Tobacco Harm Reduction through Scientific Collaboration," focused on ways to create smoke-free alternatives for billions of tobacco users. It not only facilitated international dialogue on scientific research related to tobacco and nicotine but also showcased research findings and discoveries from CORESTA members, providing crucial support for the transition from combustible tobacco to smoke-free alternatives.

During the opening ceremony, Danni Tower, Head of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at the company, gave a keynote speech emphasizing the progress of BAT in advancing tobacco harm reduction agenda. She mentioned that scientific collaboration is crucial in expanding public awareness and acceptance of tobacco harm reduction, and highlighted BAT's commitment to sharing and exchanging world-class scientific research.

The CORESTA conference highlighted the importance of global scientific collaboration to maximize public health opportunities for tobacco harm reduction. We are proud to host such an important event and believe that if all stakeholders recognize the potential for tobacco harm reduction, positive changes could occur globally.

In order to achieve this goal, as discussed this week, there is a need for more open dialogue in the fields of science and regulation. Therefore, we have recently launched Omni™- offering thoughtful ideas for a smoke-free world- which is an open, evidence-based platform based on leading scientific research.

Other keynote speakers at the conference include global health advocate Derek Yach, who spoke on the topic of "New Generation Products Require New Generation Science and Regulation.

The speech at the CORESTA conference showcased the scientific advancements being made using new methods to accelerate harm reduction in tobacco. These advancements ranged from the application of genomics in agricultural science to the development of biomarkers in research, as well as the use of artificial intelligence tools to enhance our understanding of the reasons and effects of interventions. All public health agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), should collaborate with CORESTA scientists to expedite change.

BAT stated that the CORESTA conference is just another example of its commitment to promoting public health interests by reducing the harm caused by tobacco globally. The company continues to invest in the development of new smoke-free tobacco products, supported by cutting-edge scientific research and high standards, aimed at laying the foundation for a smoke-free world.