TCORS 2.0: Center for the Assessment of Tobacco Regulations (CAsToR)

Upcoming Events

CAsToR Webinar: Building a COPD Natural History Simulation Model for Tobacco Regulation Evaluation: From Statistics to Simulation
Flyer for CAsToR Webinar: Building a COPD Natural
History Simulation Model for
Tobacco Regulation Evaluation:
From Statistics to Simulation
DATE + TIME: Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:00 PM — 2:00 PM

CAsToR junior investigator Dr. Sanchez Romero will talk through the development of a population simulation model for tobacco control, using an example of her work on developing a COPD Natural History Model. She will also discuss the use of different methods to estimate model input parameters, including important barriers to consider when using various health data sources for model development. There will be sufficient time for Q&A. Registration is required. Questions? Please contact Molly Coeling at mcoeling@umich.edu.

Recent Events

CAsToR 2023 Virtual Symposium: Computational Modeling in Tobacco Regulatory Science: Nicotine Reduction and Flavor Restrictions
DATE: Wed May 17, 2023 - Thu May 18, 2023
DESCRIPTION: This virtual symposium, hosted by CAsToR, aims to discuss the application of computational modeling to tobacco regulatory science research. The focus will be on regulations regarding very low nicotine content cigarettes and flavor restrictions in combustible and noncombustible products. Keynote speakers: Kenneth E. Warner, PhD, Avedis Donabedian Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Public Health; Professor Emeritus of Health Management & Policy; Dean Emeritus of Public Health, University of Michigan; and Brian King, PhD, MPH, Director of the Center for Tobacco Products at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Recordings coming soon, please visit the symposium website for more information.
Website for “CAsToR 2023 Virtual Symposium: Computational Modeling in Tobacco Regulatory Science: Nicotine Reduction and Flavor Restrictions”
Responding to Journal Peer Reviewers
DATE: Fri Feb 10, 2023
SPEAKERS: Dr. Ella August
DESCRIPTION: How to navigate the journal peer review system In this webinar, Dr. August will focus on basic principles and strategies for responding to journal peer reviewers, including how to:   • Format responses to reviewers for easy comprehension
  • Craft responses and associated manuscript changes to maximize your chances for final acceptance
  • Address suggestions with which you do not agree
  • Address conflicting advice from different reviewers
Participants will gain hands on practice using examples from BMJ Open. The webinar will be held via Zoom on Friday, February 10th, 2023 from 1:00 to 2:00pm ET; to participate, please; to participate, please register by Friday, February 3rd. Contact Molly Coeling (mcoeling@umich) for registration link. This webinar is open to CAsToR trainees and pilot project PIs. For more information, please contact Ella August (eaugust@umich.edu) or Molly Coeling (mcoeling@umich).
Video for “Responding to Journal Peer Reviewers”
Manuscript Writing Basics Webinar
DATE: Fri Jan 27, 2023
SPEAKERS: Dr. Ella August
DESCRIPTION: Join us to strengthen your scientific writing skills In this webinar, Dr. August will cover key approaches and tips for writing a publishable research paper, including the following topics:   • Selecting a suitable target journal
  • Writing a compelling title
  • Developing clear and testable research objectives
  • Creating a solid introduction
  • Formulating a strong methods section
  • Using text and visuals to highlight your results
  • Interpreting and contextualizing results in your discussion section
Video for “Manuscript Writing Basics Webinar”
Lightning Talks 2023 Session Three: Tobacco Related Disparities
DATE: Thu Jan 19, 2023
DESCRIPTION: “Trajectories of tobacco use, stress and health among U.S. transgender youth and adults” with Dr. Luisa Kcomt (Wayne State University) • “Longitudinal trends in the prevalence of menthol cigarette use and disparities in use at sub-national levels by sex, age, and race/ethnicity: Findings from the International Tobacco Control US Surveys from 2002 to 2020” with Dr. Pete Driezen (University of Waterloo)
Video for “Lightning Talks 2023 Session Three: Tobacco Related Disparities”
Lightning Talks 2023 Session Two: Tobacco Use Transitions
DATE: Thu Jan 19, 2023
DESCRIPTION: “Determinants of tobacco use transitions among smokers and dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes” with Dr. Andrew Brouwer (University of Michigan) • “Identifying causal pathways in longitudinal tobacco product transition studies” with Dr. Shu “Violet” Xu (New York University) • “Predicting smoking behaviors using machine learning” with Dr. Mona Issabakhsh (Georgetown University) and Dr. Thuy Le (University of Michigan) • “Substitutability of cigarettes for salt- and free-based ENDS devices in young adult ENDS users” with Dr. Amanda Quisenberry (Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center)
Video for “Lightning Talks 2023 Session Two: Tobacco Use Transitions”
Lightning Talks 2023 Session One: Tobacco Use Among Youth
DATE: Wed Jan 18, 2023
DESCRIPTION: “The effects of Tobacco 21 adoption on cigar sales in the US” with Dr. Alex Liber (Georgetown University) • “Automating the detection of American adolescents at risk of e-cigarette dependence using machine learning” with Dr. Rui “Ray” Fu (University of Toronto) • “The impact of individual decision making and social network structure on anti-tobacco program effectiveness and disparities in adolescent tobacco use behavior” with Dr. Yuefan “Iris” Shao (University of California San Francisco) • “Cross State Border Nicotine Vaping Products Purchase – Early Evidence from State Emergency Sales Restrictions in 2019” with Dr. Kai-Wen Cheng (Governors State University)
Video for “Lightning Talks 2023 Session One: Tobacco Use Among Youth”
CANCELED: “Equity in Public Health – What Does It Really Mean? From Tobacco and Nutrition to Policy and Administration”
DATE: Tue Jan 10, 2023
DESCRIPTION: Please note: This event has been canceled. A recording of this talk will be posted online shortly.
Tobacco Regulatory Science Distinguished Speaker Series: Nicotine and Tobacco Regulatory Policy - A Look Back and a Look Forward
DATE: Thu Sep 29, 2022
SPEAKERS: Mitch Zeller, JD (Former Director, Center for Tobacco Products, FDA)
DESCRIPTION: Mr. Zeller will take an in-depth look at the historically unregulated marketplace for tobacco products and the public health consequences of the lack of regulation. He will then explore the critical role that FDA plays conducting premarket product reviews to determine whether new tobacco products are “appropriate for the protection of public health” and should be authorized for sale. He will close with a look forward, sharing observations and posing a series of questions related to the ongoing harm reduction debate surrounding e-cigarettes.
Video for “Tobacco Regulatory Science Distinguished Speaker Series: Nicotine and Tobacco Regulatory Policy - A Look Back and a Look Forward”
An Introduction to the Analysis of Trends and Transitions for Tobacco and Public Health Research
DATE: Mon Aug 15, 2022 - Tue Aug 16, 2022
DESCRIPTION: CAsToR is pleased to announce this introductory workshop (in person): An Introduction to the Analysis of Trends and Transitions for Tobacco and Public Health Research. This workshop will support non-statisticians in learning about methods for modeling trends and transition analysis. The focus will be on concepts, as well as practical examples and applications. Participants will get practice running example codes on tobacco-related datasets. Interested applicants must plan to attend the entire workshop. A CAsToR certificate of completion will be provided upon completion of the workshop. Who is this workshop for? Tobacco researchers, non-statisticians, non-modelers, students and postdoctoral researchers with background in epidemiology, public health or other health sciences. Federal partners interested in learning more about the analytical approaches covered in this workshop. When and where: The workshop will be held at Georgetown University from Monday, August 15th through Tuesday, August 16th. Registration for this event has closed. Please visit the event webpage for more information.
David Mendez, PhD: “Intro to trend analyses and time-series approaches for modeling” (conceptual)
DATE: Mon Aug 15, 2022
DESCRIPTION:

This module will: 1) Expose you to different approaches to time series modeling; 2) Help you understand the underlying assumptions behind different time series modeling

Video for “David Mendez, PhD: “Intro to trend analyses and time-series approaches for modeling” (conceptual)”