The Scientific Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction: Novel Products, Research & Policy started in Athens seven years ago in May 2018, 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.
The 6th Summit by SCOHRE in 2023, was held as a hybrid, international event, at the Royal Olympic Hotel in the historic center of Athens and virtually. Attendance on-site and on-line exceeded 250 participants from 30 countries from 6 continents! The agenda included sessions focusing not only on Europe, but also on African and Asian countries, South America, and New Zealand. Also, 45 scientific research papers that were presented and discussed with the audience, including new clinical evidence on health effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
On September 2024, SCOHRE organised a virtual Summit, to encourage participation not only from Europe but also from remote regions of the world. Indeed, experts and participants from 39 countries around the world joined the 7th Scientific Summit to discuss an expanding body of research on Tobacco Harm Reduction, share experiences, and present best practices for modern, comprehensive, and more effective public health strategies that also take into account consumer preferences and their right to make informed decisions.
The 8th Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction returns to Athens, in a new sophisticated venue, Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation. More importantly, an exciting agenda is being drafted for new and returning attendees.
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