Problem/Objective: The Tobacco Industry Research Committee/Council for Tobacco Research served as a "front" organization to advance the public relations and litigation objectives of the tobacco industry. For over 40 years the CTR employed "Special Projects"– research projects directed by industry committees, including lawyers, to support scientists who had shown a willingness to generate information and provide testimony that could bolster the industry's defenses before courts and governmental bodies and cast doubt on the scientific evidence implicating smoking as the cause of disease. What were these projects and how were they used? What happened to the scientists whose research didn't follow industry plans? What implications do Special Projects have today?

Methods: Materials for this presentation were derived from the internal documents of the tobacco Industry and videotaped materials from the Tobacco Institute documents archive. From this material an extensive database of special projects and accounts has been developed compiling several facets of the research as well as funding, dates, institutions, and outcomes. Videotaped testimony given by special project scientists as well as industry films and editorials enhance the impact of these projects.

Results: Documents, interviews, audio and videotapes, documents and testimony from the tobacco industry provide a road map of industry defense and strategic science.

Conclusions: Opens a discussion regarding current issues. What can be learned from an industry that pays for science in support of biased strategic research? What can be learned about strategic science for other industries?