Abstract
The Life Sciences Research Office (LSRO), a non-profit biomedical research organization, is evaluating the science base necessary to substantiate scientific conclusions for potential reduced-risk tobacco products and is identifying critical research gaps. If feasible, LSRO will also develop an evaluative process for the scientific assessment of potential reduced-risk tobacco products. This review is intended to build on the findings and recommendations of a Committee of the Institute of Medicine, which are detailed in the report, Clearing the Smoke: Assessing the Science Base for Tobacco Harm Reduction. LSRO has convened a multidisciplinary advisory committee to guide the project and provide a risk characterization. Satellite committees will provide independent analyses of the state-of-the-science in three areas: biological effects assessment, individual exposure assessment, and population exposure and behavior assessment. This project is sponsored by Philip Morris USA.