Key Points: The tobacco industry has a 50 year history of manipulating universities to promote confusion about the science of smoking and passive smoking. Based on academic research and legal evidence, faculty and administrators at leading universities in the United States and around the world have made the decision to no longer accept tobacco industry funding for research. Presenters will describe: how and why the tobacco industry funds academic research; illustrate how tobacco companies are different from other funding sources; and explain how the tobacco industry stands foursquare against the principles of academic freedom. The information presented was obtained through academic research and the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations findings.

Learning Objectives: This session will include presentations by university faculty and public health advocates who are working on this issue at the University of California (UC). Information will be presented on: how and why the tobacco industry funds academic research; arguments in favor of institutional policies to deny funding from this particular source; arguments against policies denying funding from a particular source; and information about the advocacy efforts at UC and other leading institutions.

Benefits: Participants will benefit from the relevant experience as well as the extensive research of faculty and public health advocates who have been working to rid UC of tobacco industry funding of research for over seven years.