UMTRN: The University of Michigan Tobacco Research Network: University of Michigan Tobacco Research Network (UMTRN)

UMTRN: Updates & Events

Featured Events

UMTRN Seminar Series
In collaboration with the Center for the Assessment of Tobacco Regulations (CAsToR), the Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) hosted a virtual UMTRN Tobacco Seminar Series on various topics in tobacco control. The series featured CAsToR faculty from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and guest researchers from other institutions.
July 8, 2021: Menthol Products: New Research to Support Local Action
August 12, 2021: Behavioral Health and Tobacco Use: Translating Research into Action
November 15, 2021: Tobacco Regulation in a Changing Policy Landscape
This page will be updated with more information about events and recordings. Please contact Karalyn Kiessling at kiessli@umich.edu for any questions about this event series.

Previous Events

UMTRN Seminar Series: “Tobacco Regulation in a Changing Policy Landscape”
Speakers: Holly Jarman (Professor, University of Michigan School of Public Health) and Micah Berman (Professor, The Ohio State University’s College of Public Health and Michael E. Moritz College of Law )
Moderator: Cliff Douglas (Director, University of Michigan Tobacco Research Network and Adjunct Professor, University of Michigan School of Public Health)
Date: November 11 from 12-1:30pm EST
Description: The final webinar in a virtual UMTRN Tobacco Seminar Series hosted by University of Michigan Tobacco Research Network's Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) in collaboration with the Center for the Assessment of Tobacco Regulations (CAsToR). The panel discussed tobacco regulation, specifically as it applies to emerging areas such as synthetic nicotine. The speakers provided insights into recent and current research and gave context to the current policy actions being considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and beyond, as they relate to combustible, vaping and other tobacco products.
Video: Watch “Tobacco Regulation in a Changing Policy Landscape” on YouTube
Slides: Holly JarmanMicah Berman
UMTRN Seminar Series: “Behavioral Health and Tobacco Use: Translating Research into Action”
Speakers: Steven Schroeder (Distinguished Professor of Health and Health Care, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco), Jamie Tam (Professor, Yale School of Public Health; CAsToR Pilot PI and Trainee), and Pat McKone (Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at the American Lung Association)
Date: August 12 from 12-1pm EST
Description: The second webinar in a virtual UMTRN Tobacco Seminar Series hosted by University of Michigan Tobacco Research Network's Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) in collaboration with the Center for the Assessment of Tobacco Regulations (CAsToR). The panel will discuss tobacco use among individuals with behavioral health conditions.
Video: Watch “Behavioral Health and Tobacco Use: Translating Research into Action” on YouTube
Slides: Steven SchroederJamie TamPat McKone
Webinar: “TOBACCO POLICY: Recent changes and next steps”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: On 7/21/2021 UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) presented at the Tobacco-Free Michigan Annual Conference. Recent policy changes in Michigan were discussed as well as available research on the effect of proposed federal and state legislative changes.
UMTRN Seminar Series: “Menthol Products: New Research to Support Local Action”
Speakers: Cliff Douglas (CAsToR co-investigator), Rafael Meza (CAsToR co-PI), David Mendez (CAsToR co-investigator), David Levy (CAsToR co-PI), Kara Kiessling (UMTRN), Minou Jones (Making it Count Community Development Corporation)
Date: July 8 2021
Description: The first webinar in a virtual UMTRN Tobacco Seminar Series hosted by University of Michigan Tobacco Research Network's Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) featured several CAsToR investigators who discussed the projected national public health impact of a menthol cigarette ban through sophisticated modeling research. Additionally, the CEO of the Making it Count Community Development Corporation discussed how the development of a local menthol survey and health data is assisting efforts in the City of Detroit and surrounding areas.
Video: View “Menthol Products: New Research to Support Local Action” on YouTube
Webinar: “SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER: A call to action against tobacco in the Black Community”
Speakers: Dr. Phillip Gardiner (African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council), Kenny Ray (Center for Black Health and Equity), Karalyn Kiessling (University of Michigan), Dr. Karla Mitchell (Changing Lives and Staying Sober), and Reverend Horace Sheffield III (Detroit Association of Black Organizations)
Description: On 2/23/21 Karalyn Kiessling, representing UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP), was a panelist at the “Speak Truth to Power” virtual town hall hosted by the Making it Count (MIC) Community Development Corporation. The event discussed tobacco use and related issues in the African American community with a special focus on menthol. Speakers discussed the history of the issue and current research, including new evidence from a statewide survey on African American tobacco use.
Webinar: “Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP)”
Speakers: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager) and Cliff Douglas (UMTRN Director; CAsToR co-investigator)
Description: On 12/14/20, UMTRN’s SFELP presented at a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Technical Assistance Meeting to localities across Michigan about the services SFELP can offer to help achieve their goals of reducing the influence of tobacco.
Webinar: “2020 Strategic Planning Meeting: Tobacco Flavorings and Future Needs”
Speakers: Jared Burkhart (Executive Director of the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics) and Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: On 11/23/2020 UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) conducted a Strategic Planning Meeting which involved a legislative update, a presentation on menthol tobacco products, and a discussion on what future research is needed.
Webinar: “Updating Tobacco Policy”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: Based on a model policy for local governments, UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) prepared two educational slide decks (one for community members and one for decisionmakers). SFELP gave two presentations to the statewide e-cigarette workgroup on 8/12/20 on the first part of the slides (including e-cigarettes in Clean Air Laws) and on 9/9/20 on the second portion of the slides (improving Tobacco 21 enforcement).
Webinar: “Addressing Vaping and Tobacco on College Campuses given a Changing Policy Landscape”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) presented to the Michigan Higher Education Network about COVID-19 and how new tobacco and vaping regulations will impact college students on 5/19/20.
Webinar: “Tobacco Control and COVID-19: An Emerging Intersection for Research”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: On 5/8/2020 UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) presented the keynote address for the Tobacco-Free Michigan Annual Conference. Available research on Covid-19 and tobacco was discussed as well as future research needs.
Webinar: “Live Chat: Dangers of Vaping”
Speaker: Cliff Douglas (UMTRN Director; CAsToR co-investigator)
Description: Cliff Douglas participated as a speaker in collaboration with Michigan Medicine on 2/21/2020. The expert panel discussed the risks associated with vaping and recent research related to the e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) outbreak.
Presentation: “Smoke-Free Housing: Policies to Improve Health”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) presented information on secondhand smoke to a 55+ co-op living community (Morley Manor) on 11/7/19 and offered an informational pamphlet as the community works to have all condos be smoke-free.
Presentation: “Lessons from the Implementation of Tobacco 21: Models of State and Local Innovation, Community Engagement, and Decriminalization of Youth Access to Tobacco”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: On 10/16/19 a presentation based on the Tobacco 21 Policy Sprint specifically focusing on case studies and opportunities for communities (including local public health departments) was presented at the Michigan Premier Public Health Conference by Karalyn Kiessling.
Presentation: “Vaping: Recent Research and Policy”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) discussed recent vaping injuries and the Michigan flavor ban with a group of master's students at Eastern Michigan University on 10/24/19. The students planned to create health education messaging for college students based on this information.
Presentation: “Turning Information into Action on Tobacco Control 10.15.19”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) provided updated information about recent vaping injuries and the Michigan flavor ban with the Grand Rapids Tobacco Free Network.
Presentation: “Turning Information into Action on Tobacco Control 10.3.19”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: On 10/3/19 UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) presented at A2C3 (the Ann Arbor Campus-Community Coalition) to provide information about recent vaping injuries and the Michigan flavor ban with community members to help inform local policy. This is an updated version of the information presented on 9.16.19.
Presentation: “Turning Information into Action on Tobacco Control 9.16.19”
Speaker: Kara Kiessling (UMTRN; SFELP manager)
Description: UMTRN’s Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) hosted a Strategic Planning Meeting on campus on 9/16 to discuss the emerging issue of vaping-related injuries and Governor Whitmer's flavored vaping ban. Tobacco advocates, representatives of state and local government, and researchers involved in nicotine and tobacco control research discussed the injuries, the recently announced flavor ban, and directions for future research.