Tobacco Documents Online

.% i .a FILE NO TE March 17, 1972 C.T'.R. ~ Recently, a proposal by the Lorillard Company stated "substantial l'ong-range and' specific planning of research activities by CTR is necessary to attempt to achieve specific, realizable goals. " This suggestion is specifically allied to a sQcond one, namely the need to '`.'identify those g~aps__in_ knowledge which existt in the areas of cancer, non-neoplastic pulmonary diseases and cardiovascular diseases as related' to smoking. " We wouldU certainly support these suggestions, but would, offer the view that more effective planning may be achievable if the phrase - identificat'ioni of the gaps in knowledge - could be more clearly related to the objectives governing the CTR program. It is our und'erstanding that the program may be broadly described as a"n indepth study of the total effects of smoking; this covers not only the implied medical hazards, but also the benefits which are associated with smoking. More specifically, we understand that this aim should be researched by CTR ini essentially three directions.: To define the effects of cigarette smoke on the hum_an system - where the. major concerni is Nrhole smoke and'biological systems withi physiological and pathological similarities to the human system. Certainly, the overriding principle is relevancy to, human experience. To define motivational meclianism and benefits of smoking - there is increasing need for a properly coordinated program into the reasons for smoking, and the complex interaction of subjective psychological factors andobjective pharmacological effect of smoking. To conceptualize and explore hypotheses, other than direct causation,, relative to the Smoking/FIeal'th problem byepidemiologicaly and other appropriate methods - to some extent, the id'ea of searching the gaps in knowledge could be fruitfully explored in at least three directions: (a) To establish, a respected foru m for critical evaluation of epidemiologic data, both past and future. (b) To study the random /non-randorn theory and properly assess the merits of the susceptible minority concept'. &'~~ ; l -z. 7. l 7''-

C = ( (c) Tod'~eterminetheextent that sources, other than: cigarette smoking, can contribute to those diseases which are claimed to be contributed to by cigarette smoke. It is our feeling that the Lorill'ard~ proposal will provide the greatest divid'end if applied within the above framework. Since only by having a clear picture of the directions of the CTR program as a wholle;, is it possible to improve the targeting and setting of priorities for three to five-year-long research programs.