Grace Kong, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, has been appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Health Effects and Patterns of Use of Premium Cigars.
The committee will evaluate available scientific literature and evidence of the health effects related to the use of premium cigars and identify future federal funded research needs. The review will include an analysis of data on both short- and long-term health effects of premium cigars.
Committee members will assess how the use of premium cigars may differ among cigar types and other tobacco products.
“As a tobacco regulatory science researcher focused on youth, I am committed to conducting research to build a strong foundation of evidence to inform the regulation of tobacco products to prevent youth tobacco use,” Kong said. “Cigar use, particularly cheap, flavored cigars, is often an understudied tobacco product despite its continued presence in communities with low income and people of color. I am looking forward to serving on the committee with other researchers to identify research questions to ultimately reduce youth cigar use and reduce health disparities.”
Kong’s appointment took effect in March and will continue until May 31, 2022. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for April 13, 2021. Kong’s research also involves the use of social media for tobacco marketing, novel tobacco use behaviors among youth, and the development of innovative adolescent tobacco/cessation interventions for youth.