LIAF – Italian Anti-Smoking League, ECLAT (a spin-off of the University of Catania), in collaboration with CoEHAR, the Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Tobacco Harm Reduction at the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine of the University of Catania, are launching a call for ideas to develop innovative, original, and practical projects based on the application of the tobacco harm reduction principle.
The competition is open to medical students in their last three years of study, doctoral candidates, and recent graduates (within three years of graduation) from Italian universities.
INTRODUCTION
Harm reduction is the cornerstone of our scientific approach. Utilizing alternative and less harmful tools compared to conventional smoking—such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products—can mitigate the adverse effects of smoking. CoEHAR is dedicated to studying the factors that fuel smoking addiction and identifying effective cessation solutions.
In medicine, risk reduction is already applied in areas like alcoholism, oncology, and infectious diseases. However, in the context of smoking, it faces challenges in acceptance. Numerous studies, many conducted at the University of Catania, demonstrate that nicotine delivery products without combustion can improve the health of individuals with smoking-related conditions, such as COPD, cardiovascular issues, and diabetes.
“People die from tar, not nicotine.” Nicotine does not cause cancer or lung damage; rather, it is the substances produced by combustion that are highly harmful. Harm reduction involves interventions to decrease the burden of smoking on the healthcare system, ensuring safety and dignity for all.
Research, clinical approaches, health education, and the sharing of best practices are essential tools to promote the tobacco harm reduction principle.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Participants must submit a written proposal outlining a project idea that explores ways to effectively implement the tobacco harm reduction principle in Italy.
Examples of possible topics include:
- Developing hospital strategies to integrate harm reduction tools into treatment plans for smoking patients.
- Creating interdisciplinary collaboration models among general practitioners, specialists, and healthcare providers to design personalized care pathways for smokers.
- Launching social initiatives to encourage young people to quit smoking.
- Organizing forums to disseminate accurate scientific information about risk reduction.
- Running public health campaigns to educate the population about the risks of smoking and the benefits of harm reduction.
- Studying interventions for specific diseases (e.g., COPD, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions) using harm reduction approaches.
- Designing digital tools (apps, chatbots) to assist smokers in transitioning to less harmful alternatives.
- Researching the psychological impact of harm reduction on smokers and developing targeted psychological support strategies.
- Hosting workshops and events for smokers to promote knowledge and adoption of risk reduction strategies.
- Evaluating the economic impact of harm reduction on the national healthcare system.
- Creating interactive educational materials for schools and universities to spread awareness about harm reduction principles.
- Studying cultural and social barriers to adopting harm reduction in smoking practices.
Proposals must be original, personal, and developed specifically for this competition. They should meet the following requirements:
- Accepted formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf
- Maximum length: 3 pages, including graphs and/or tables
- Font: Times New Roman, size 12
EVALUATION
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of experts from CoEHAR, LIAF, and ECLAT. The evaluation criteria include:
- Originality of the project proposal.
- Practical applicability of the proposed solutions.
- Effectiveness in achieving the outlined objectives.
The 10 best proposals will be selected for their innovative potential and contribution to promoting the harm reduction principle.
PRIZES
- The 10 best proposals will be published on websites dedicated to tobacco harm reduction research in Italy and worldwide. They will also be reviewed by CoEHAR experts and international collaborators for potential practical implementation.
- A €1,000 prize will be awarded for each project approved for further development.
- Additionally, the ten winners will receive a copy of LIAF’s new Internal Medicine Manual: Methodology, Semiology, Pathophysiology, Clinical Practice, and Medical Therapy, edited by Prof. Ettore Bartoli, valued at €120.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL
Submissions, in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format, must be sent by Friday, February 14 to: cr.coehar@unict.it
The email body must include:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
- Occupation
- Affiliated university or institution
- Email address and phone number
The processing, dissemination, and communication of personal data will comply with current regulations, in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR).
