For Immediate Release
June 3, 2005

International Smoking Study Seeks Volunteers

BUFFALO, NY – An international study led by researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is recruiting adult smokers to participate in an important study on the effects of cigarette smoking.  The study will determine if people who smoke cigarettes with higher levels of chemicals called tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) have higher amounts of TSNAs in their bodies.  TSNAs are among the most abundant carcinogenic compounds in tobacco smoke.

One hundred twenty-five subjects will be recruited for the study, 50 from the United States and 25 each from Canada, Britain, and Australia.

RPCI is recruiting both male and female participants between 18 and 50 years of age, who are current, daily smokers, in good health, with reliable transportation and willing to answer questions, collect their own cigarette butts and provide urine, saliva and breath samples.  Participation includes one day of smoking each participant’s usual brand and two laboratory sessions, each lasting from 30-60 minutes.  Participants will be reimbursed for their time and inconvenience. 

 “This is the first study of its kind ever conducted on an international scale,” said Gary Giovino, PhD, Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, RPCI. “The results will inform scientists and policy makers throughout the world.”

The study is part of a five-year, $8.8 million Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center grant awarded to RPCI from the National Cancer Institute. The grant affords the opportunity to study the impact of national level policies in countries around the globe and provides an opportunity to conduct research to assess the impact of these policies.

For more information on the study, call 716-845-8605 and ask for the smoking study.
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York.  RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers.  For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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