For Immediate Release
September 24, 2007

BUFFALO, NY – The Global Smokefree Partnership (GSP) presented its 2007 GSP Award for Research to Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) at the meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The award recognized Roswell Park for its outstanding and sustained contribution to promoting smoke-free policies in the United States and around the world.

“Our goal is to have a world where people aren’t forced to breathe in the toxins from tobacco smoke,” said Donald L. Trump, MD, President and CEO, RPCI. “Our research on tobacco and the harm caused by tobacco smoke pollution has helped lead governments and private entities to adopt smoke-free environments.” 

“It has taken awhile to get people to pay attention,” said K. Michael Cummings, PhD, Chair of the Department of Health Behavior, RPCI. “It was not so long ago that people would light up on airplanes, in movie theaters and at the table next to you at restaurants. Our research has shown that being smoke-free is not only good for health, but also for the economy. As a result, smoke-free policies are fast becoming the norm not only in the United States, but elsewhere around the globe with nearly 20 countries now having adopted public indoor smoking laws.”

Andrew Hyland, PhD, Department of Health Behavior, RPCI added, “Our research in Buffalo, Ireland, Scotland and more than 40 countries around the world has helped to show that smoke-free policies work – they clean up the air and people support them.”

Research from the Department of Health Behavior at RPCI is funded in part by grants from the National Cancer Institute, the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The goals of the GSP awards is to recognized outstanding leadership and excellence in promoting effective smoke-free policies worldwide by individuals and organizations and validates and encourage actions to promote smoke-free policies.

The GSP, a multi-partner initiative coordinated by the American Cancer Society and the Framework Convention Alliance, promotes effective smoke-free air policies worldwide. The Partnership helps practitioners and advocates access evidence-based research, take action for smoke-free policies and make available assistance from a network of experts.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email askrpci@roswellpark.org.

 

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