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

Upcoming Workshops

Forecasting the Impact of a U.S. Nicotine Reduction Standard on People with Disabilities
Flyer for Forecasting the Impact of a U.S. Nicotine Reduction Standard on People with Disabilities
DATE + TIME: Tue Apr 14, 2026 • 3:00 PM — 4:00 PM

Dana Rubenstein, MD, will share her CAsToR pilot project work, which models the impact of a nicotine reduction standard (NRS) on people with disabilities. Specifically, she will cover:

  • Model construction, including parameterization
  • Simulation model results for projected smoking prevalence and public health harms from 2023-2100 in people with disabilities in under scenarios with and without an NRS.
  • Potential public health benefits of an NRS for people with disabilities.

Registration required.

Questions? Please contact Molly Coeling at (mcoeling@umich.edu).

SPEAKERS: Dana Rubenstein, MD, MHS (Transitional Year Resident, Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, Atlanta, GA)
Register for “Forecasting the Impact of a U.S. Nicotine Reduction Standard on People with Disabilities ”
Crafting Public Comments for Proposed Tobacco & Nicotine Rules
Flyer for Crafting Public Comments for Proposed Tobacco & Nicotine Rules
DATE + TIME: Tue Apr 21, 2026 • 3:00 PM — 4:00 PM

This workshop will cover the basics of submitting public comments with a focus on how to craft effective comments, including the use of examples of what to do and what not to do.

For additional background info, please note that a webinar, “FDA Rulemaking Process and Submitting Public Comments,” was hosted in August 2025 by the AppalTRUST TCORS and will soon be available on the TRS Knowledge Center.

This event is open to all CTP-funded individuals and their teams. To participate, please register here by Friday, April 17th.

Questions? Please contact Molly Coeling at (mcoeling@umich.edu).

SPEAKERS: Dr. Holly Jarman
Register for “Crafting Public Comments for Proposed Tobacco & Nicotine Rules ”
CAsToR Workshop: Collaborating with AI
Flyer for CAsToR Workshop: Collaborating with AI
DATE + TIME: Thu May 21, 2026 • 4:00 PM — 5:00 PM

This workshop will focus on how to work with AI tools with a collaborative approach. Topics will include:

  • How to preserve your critical thinking while getting the most out of AI
  • Ethical considerations
  • Accepted professional norms & guidelines for different types of writing products

We will use Claude in the workshop, but the principles & skills can be adapted for use with other GenAI tools.

To participate, please contact Molly Coeling at (mcoeling@umich.edu). This workshop is open to all CAsToR-affiliated individuals.

SPEAKERS: Dr. Ella August

Recent Workshops

Is Your Biosketch Compliant? — The Sequel
DATE + TIME: Fri Feb 27, 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
SPEAKERS: Dr. Ella August
Video for “Is Your Biosketch Compliant? — The Sequel”
Is Your Biosketch Compliant?
DATE + TIME: Wed Feb 18, 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
SPEAKERS: Dr. Ella August
DESCRIPTION:

This hands-on workshop will help ensure that your biosketch is updated per the recent federal update.

As of January 25, 2026, all grant application submissions and research performance progress reports (including CAsToR’s) must be in compliance.

Join us and update your biosketch in real time! To prepare, please follow instructions here.

This workshop is open to all CAsToR-affiliated individuals. To participate, please email Molly Coeling (mcoeling@umich.edu).

Video for “Is Your Biosketch Compliant?”
Academic Writing with ChatGPT
DATE + TIME: Fri Oct 24, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
SPEAKERS: Dr. Ella August
DESCRIPTION:

This workshop will orient participants to when and how to best use AI tools in copyediting. The workshop will include:

  • A protocol for privacy protection
  • Suggested prompts to improve your experience using AI in copyediting

We will use ChatGPT in the workshop, but the principles & skills can be adapted for use with proprietary AI tools at your institution. There will also be some hands-on exploration!

Video for “Academic Writing with ChatGPT ”
Write a Winning Conference Abstract
DATE + TIME: Tue Aug 05, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
SPEAKERS: Dr. Ella August
DESCRIPTION: Planning to submit an abstract for the SRNT 2026 Annual Meeting? This hands-on workshop will help you further develop and polish your abstract draft in advance of the August 15th submission deadline. Bring a copy of your draft to the workshop! Guidance and recommendations regarding format and content will be provided, along with an easy-to-use template. The event will be held on Zoom. It is open to current & former CAsToR trainees & junior investigators. To participate, please email Molly Coeling (mcoeling@umich.edu).
Systematic reviews and other types of evidence synthesis in tobacco regulatory science: a primer
DATE + TIME: Thu Mar 20, 2025 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
SPEAKERS: Dr. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Dr. Jonathan Livingstone-Banks
DESCRIPTION: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: • Explain the purpose and value of evidence synthesis
• Identify different types of evidence synthesis and their relevance to different questions in tobacco regulatory science
• Identify a trustworthy systematic review or evidence synthesis product based on core review elements
• Plan next steps if they choose to undertake their own evidence synthesis View slides
Video for “Systematic reviews and other types of evidence synthesis in tobacco regulatory science: a primer”