Since its inception in the late 1990s, the University of Minnesota TTURC has conducted studies that assess methods for reducing tobacco toxin exposure—in order to reduce death and disease in smokers who cannot or do not quit. In past years, we have evaluated the effectiveness of using potentially reduced-exposure tobacco products or reducing cigarette use to reduce tobacco harm, developed reliable biomarkers for assessing the harm that tobacco poses, and explored effective approaches for reducing exposure to tobacco toxins. Today, we continue this work. We are also beginning to examine individual differences that moderate responses to tobacco reduction methods.

Our current studies include the following:

• Lung carcinogens biomarkers in long-term tobacco users
  Principal investigator: Timothy Church, Ph.D.
  
  
  
  
• Methods for tobacco exposure reduction in humans
  Principal investigator: Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D.
  
  
  
  
• Longitudinal care: Smoking reduction to aid cessation
  Principal investigator: Anne Joseph, M.D.




• Nicotine exposure reduction in rats
  Principal investigator: Mark LeSage, Ph.D