Scientific Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction: Novel Products, Research & Policy started five years ago, in May 2018, in Athens, as an initiative of Professor of Toxicology Dimitris Kouretas, University of Thessaly, Greece and Professor of Biochemistry Konstantinos Poulas, University of Patras, with the ambition to create an international summit aiming to cover most aspects of Tobacco Harm Reduction research, policies, and products, an emerging field facing many challenges following the increasing frequency of use of alternative tobacco products.
In 2019, the 2nd Scientific Summit was also supported by Professor of Public Health Anastasia Barbouni, National School of Public Health, Greece, and Professor of Cardiology Ignatios Ikonomidis, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, both involved in smoking control. In 2020―the Scientific Summit’s third year―more scientific organisations joined and supported the event. The fact that the 3rd Scientific Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction became virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic expanded its outreach to 38 countries worldwide. That year, the need to step up the efforts towards a new broader approach to smoking control policies led to the concept and founding of SCOHRE, an International Association on Smoking Control & Harm Reduction of independent experts on Smoking Control & Harm Reduction.
2021 marks a milestone in the Scientific Summit’s history, as SCOHRE takes the lead of the virtual 4th Summit. More than 300 participants from 42 countries, including 62 speakers from 31 countries from around the globe participated in the event. A 360o approach was adopted and covered all aspects with the participation of Tobacco Harm reduction advocates from diverse research fields to debate issues from basic science to ethics, human rights, health policies and health economics.
In 2022, the 5th Scientific Summit by SCOHRE was held in the Summit’s original venue, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, in Athens―and virtually, and succeeded in attracting attendees from 43 countries, 167 on-site and 127 who participated remotely. As a conclusion to the 5th Summit’s discussions, following a process led by SCOHRE, Tobacco Harm Reduction Supporting Associations endorsed a Consensus paper published on the Summit’s website.
After five consecutive successful events on Tobacco Harm Reduction, this year, SCOHRE invites attendees to a new venue, the Royal Olympic Hotel in the very historic center of Athens! There is also the possibility to join virtually, from anywhere in the world.
Find out more about our past events:
1st Summit 2nd Summit 3rd Summit 4th Summit 5th Summit