Leadership Training

The Institute for Global Tobacco Control hosted the first an in-depth research and leadership training program in conjunction with the 13th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH).

A fundamental theme for the conference was capacity building for the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC has now been ratified by over 50 countries, over half of which are low- and middle-income countries. While ratification is a remarkable achievement, significant barriers to the treaty’s long-term success remain in low- and middle-income countries. These barriers include:

• a lack of locally relevant evidence and data gathering/surveillance infrastructure
• inadequate expertise in relation to some areas of research, health systems development, and policy formation and implementation
• insufficient networking and leadership

For many countries, a lack of capacity may be a choke point that could hold back implementation.

The IGTC program, held in conjunction with the 13th WCTOH, focused on building a cohort of well-trained and well-networked researchers capable of carrying out research relevant to the future implementation of the FCTC in low- and middle-income countries. Fifteen researchers were selected from low- and middle-income countries that have ratified the FCTC and were invited to join the program.

An invitation to participate in the program included a travel scholarship (air tickets, housing and per diem expenses for the entire four-week period), JHSPH Summer Institute registration, WCTOH registration, and a small research grant.

Program Outcomes

• Recognized cohort of tobacco control research leaders in selected countries
• A significant number of well-prepared research projects
• Increased capacity to carry out research and surveillance relevant to the FCTC in low- and middle-income countries
• Improved utility of the WCOTH venue for training and capacity building

2006 Syllabus