About

The institute is a limited company formed on the basis of a partnership between the Office of Tobacco Control and ASH Ireland and its parent organisations The Irish Cancer Society and The Irish Heart Foundation.

The Institute plans to form a transdiciplinary academic community around the issue of tobacco control and to support the development of a tobacco free society by engaging in research in all aspects of tobacco from a public health perspective.

Minister Brian Cowan T.D. in December 1988 agreed to Ash's request to establish a Tobacco Research Institute and funded a steering Group to develop a proposal for the Establishment of the Institute.

Professor David Kennedy submitted the "Proposal" for the Establishment of "Tobacco Control and Health Research Institute of Ireland" in October 1999

In 2000 the establishment of a tobacco research centre was endorsed and included in the government plan of action set out in the Report of the Tobacco Free Policy Review Group "Towards a Tobacco Free Society".

At the Incorporation of RIFTFS as a Company Minister micheal Martin T.D. welcomed the initiative and strongly supported it as an important componen t of Government Strategy in achieving a Tobacco Free Society.

About our staff

Professor Luke Clancy, Director General of the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society, Dublin. , Consultant Respiratory Physician at St James Hospital and Professor of Respiratory Medicine TCD.

His major research contributions have been in Air Pollution, Tuberculosis, Asthma, Lung Cancer and Smoking Related Diseases. He reported hugely increased mortality from the Dublin smog at a time when it had been assumed that smog consisting mainly of increased particles was only a nuisance. Despite industry and scientific opposition, he campaigned through the 1980s for a coal ban and was rewarded when he saw respiratory mortality decline by 20 % following the ban.

He has played a very significant role in TB control, both nationally and internationally. He was elected President of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD) (Europe), Chairman of the European Respiratory Society TB Scientific Group and an Advisor to the WHO and Dept of Foreign Affairs. His TB research has centred on Epidemiology and the Infectiousness of TB.
His Asthma work has included the International Survey on Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC) that showed that Ireland has one of the highest asthma rates in the world in children.

His current focus is on the prevention of smoking related diseases by research and advocacy. He hopes that RIFTFS will make a significant contribution to Tobacco Control by providing the evidence base to underpin the Irish Governments Policy on the creation of a Tobacco Free Society. His advocacy work continues, including a very successful 2nd term as Chairman of Ash Ireland when he was identified as a staunch supporter of the Workplace Ban and spokesman for the Pro Health Alliance which represented most of the Workers in the country.

He is also Chairman of the Health Promoting Hospital Network of Ireland, and as a member of the Heart Task Force, he continues his advocacy role for better health.

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In May 2004 Ms Vanessa Clarke who has a background in Nursing and Healthcare Management and Ms Sheila Keogan who has a background in Nursing and Clinical Trials Management were appointed to the Institute. Ms Keogan has special responsibilities in the areas of Research and Communications and Ms Clarke in the Corporate Affairs of the Institute.

Affiliations

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