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Researchers from the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG), part of the ¶¹°ü³ÉÈË°æ’s Centre for 21st Century Public Health, will travel to Milan to present at an esteemed public health conference.

The 10th European Conference on Tobacco or Health (ECToH) is organised by the Association of European Cancer Leagues and will take place from 20 to 22 May 2026. The ECToH conference brings together tobacco control researchers, health professionals, and policymakers to discuss how to achieve progress in the fight against tobacco and nicotine. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Nicotine-Free Spaces for Healthier Cities,’ which reflects a future vision for cities that actively promote health, well-being, and sustainability.

Six members of TCRG will attend the conference to present on their recent research covering a range of topics. These topics include tobacco taxation and pricing policies, tobacco industry interference, and tobacco industry targeting of health professionals. Members of TCRG have also presented their research at previous editions of the ECToH conference.

, Co-Director of the Tobacco Control Research Group, will present on ‘Reducing Tobacco Supplier Profits and Pricing power: Modelling the Impact of a Tobacco Price Cap and Tax Increase on Socioeconomic Inequalities in England’.

, Co-Director of the Tobacco Control Research Group, is a member of the conference’s Scientific Committee. Dr Gallagher will chair a session on tobacco industry interference in governments and moderate a poster session on tobacco industry interference.

Research Associate will share her research in a presentation titled ‘Philip Morris International’s influence on science on plain packaging of cigarettes: a contemporary case study’.

Research Fellow and , Deputy Editor of TCRG’s Tobacco Tactics platform, will share their work in a presentation titled ‘Targeting Trust: How the tobacco industry attempts to engage health professionals’.

Research Associate will deliver two presentations. The first titled ‘Eroding the Floor: The Weakening Impact of the UK’s Minimum Excise Tax on Tobacco’ and the second titled ‘Patterns of Influence in EU Tobacco Tax Directive Consultation: Evidence from Sentiment and Similarity Analysis’. In addition, Dr Sheikh's presentation abstract from ECToH 2023 has been named as one of the best contributions to that edition of the conference. As recognition of this, Dr Sheikh will participate as a panellist in a special session titled 'Best of ECToH 2023'.

Dr Gallagher and Dr Matthes will also present on tobacco industry opposition to forward-looking tobacco control measures as part of a symposium titled ‘Unlocking the potential of forward-looking tobacco control measures in Europe’.

Since being established in 2007, the Tobacco Control Research Group has investigated the activities of the global tobacco industry, particularly the four largest transnational tobacco companies. The group’s award-winning work has had a real impact on tobacco policymaking and is well-respected within the tobacco control community.

The team also manages , a unique knowledge exchange platform with information about key issues in tobacco control and the global tobacco industry. The site attracts thousands of users from across the world, including researchers, policymakers, journalists, and advocates.

Dr. Allen Gallagher, Co-Director of the Tobacco Control Research Group, comments:

It is wonderful that TCRG will have a strong presence at the 2026 European Conference on Tobacco or Health. The event provides an important opportunity for those working on tobacco control across Europe to meet to discuss ideas and learnings. It will be an excellent platform to share our work, as well as to hear about the important efforts being undertaken by colleagues across the region.