Partners

The TB and Tobacco project is coordinated by Dr. Kamran Siddiqi, based in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York.

The University of York is a research-intensive university, regularly appearing among the top 100 universities globally. The Department of Health Sciences employs over 130 active researchers, who work across five themes: Public Health and Society; Trials and Statistics; Cancer Epidemiology and Cardio-Vascular Health; Mental Health and Addiction; and Health Services and Policy. The Departmental research strategy is designed to support both applied research (typically with an intervention focus) and fundamental research (often grounded in observational studies), including research that anticipates future challenges and threats to health and well-being.

The York team provides the expertise required to deliver high quality research in tobacco, specifically through trials and economic evaluation, in ‘real world’ health services.

The randomised controlled trials in this project are supported by York Trials Unit (YTU). YTU provides a number of services, including study design, randomisation, trial coordination, data management, statistics, economic evaluation and qualitative support. The work on economic evaluation is supported by an experienced health economics team, which has a world-renowned reputation in conducting economic evaluations related to tobacco control.

Meet the team

• Dr. Kamran Siddiqi has extensive experience of research in the fields of tobacco and lung health. His research has so far led to 67 scientific publications, 29 as first author, in peer-reviewed journals, two book chapters, policy documents and guidelines for organisations, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
• Steve Parrott has worked as a health economist specialising in the economic evaluation of programmes for the treatment of addiction to tobacco, alcohol and other drugs at the University of York since 1995. His work has had considerable impact in the field of the treatment of addiction. His research centres on the methodology of the economics of addiction and provides policy makers with the relevant economic data by which to take forward tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug policy. 
• Dr. Rhian Gabe is a senior statistician with over 15 years’ experience of conducting and analysing trials and other epidemiological research in cancer. She has worked on a range of cancer studies conducted across the UK and internationally, including epidemiological studies evaluating screening mammography and several cancer trials. These multidisciplinary studies are published in appropriate journals and designed with potential impact on clinical or public health policies in mind.
• Dr. Omara Dogar has worked on the implementation and analysis of tobacco trials, particularly in the Pakistan context and brings valuable experience of the issues arising in the delivery of cessation interventions and their assessment through a trial methodology.
• Ada Keding is an experienced statistician at York Trials Unit where she is responsible for the design and analysis of healthcare trials in a variety of applied fields. She collaborates with researchers from across disciplines and has a portfolio of work in the collection and analysis of patient reported outcomes in cancer research.
• Dr. Anne Readshaw is a biologist with more than 15 years’ experience of research in industry and academia. She has experience of EU Project management and reporting and is project manager for TB and Tobacco.
• Shilpi Swami has been a Research Fellow in Health Economics since January 2018. Before this, she worked as a senior analyst at Novartis healthcare and at a US-based consultancy for over two and a half years. During this time, she worked on country specific analyses and validation of health economic models and evidence syntheses in various disease areas.

Publications

• Siddiqi K, Khan A, Ahmad M, Dogar O, Kanaan M, Newell JN, Thomson H. (2013) Action to Stop Smoking In Suspected Tuberculosis (ASSIST) in Pakistan: a Randomized, Controlled Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine 158(9):667-75.
• Safdar N, Zahid R, Shah S, Fatima R, Cameron I, Siddiqi K. (2015) Tuberculosis patients learning about second-hand smoke (TBLASS): results of a pilot randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases 19(2):237-243.
• Huque R, Dogar O, Cameron I, Thomson H, Amos A, Siddiqi K. (2015) Children Learning About Second-hand Smoking (CLASS): a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial. Nicotine Tob Res 17(12):1465-72.
• Dogar O, Jawad M, Shah SK, Siddiqi K. (2014) Effect of Cessation Interventions on Hookah Smoking: Post-Hoc Analysis of a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial. Nicotine Tob Res 16(6):682-8.
• Khan A, Huque R, Shah SK, Kaur J, Baral S, Gupta PC, Cherukupalli R, Sheikh A, Selvaraj S, Nargis N, Cameron I, Siddiqi K. (2014) Smokeless Tobacco Control Policies in South Asia: A Gap Analysis and Recommendations. Nicotine Tob Res 16(6):890-4.

The ARK Foundation is a not-for- profit, non-government, non-political research organisation that accelerates socio-economic development through research, knowledge and evidence-based solutions, creating a positive impact on human life. ARK focuses on making visible contributions to advance national policy, particularly in health, nutrition, population, education, gender equity, and the development of poor, marginalized, disadvantaged and indigenous people.

ARK carries out research on priority areas and shares evidence-based research findings with wider audiences, through a series of planned research uptake activities. In this way, ARK influences strategies to ensure equity, efficiency and quality of service delivery systems and thereby has a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged groups. ARK works in close collaboration with government organizations, national and international NGOs, development partners and universities to achieve its vision and mission. 

Meet the team

• Dr. Rumana Huque trained as a health economist and has 12 years’ experience in the field of health systems research. She has a PhD in Health Economics (Leeds), MA in HMPP (Leeds), BSS (Hons) and MSS in Economics (Dhaka University). She currently manages ARK, where she has led the implementation of a number of high profile studies within the health systems of Bangladesh, particularly in areas of TB and tobacco control. She has close working relations across the Ministry of Health in Bangladesh and works closely with NTP. In the TB and Tobacco project, Dr. Huque is leading the delivery of all aspects of the work packages to be conducted in Bangladesh. She is managing a team including a trials coordinator, ten research assistants and three researchers to implement the study. She also plays a pivotal role in liaising with NTP, Bangladesh to ensure the smooth running of the project and the uptake of the tobacco cessation strategies across Bangladesh.

Publications

• Huque R, Dogar O, Cameron I, Thomson H, Amos A, Siddiqi K. (2015) Children Learning About Second-hand Smoking (CLASS): a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial. Nicotine Tob Res 17(12):1465-1472.
• Zafar Ullah A N, Huque R, Akter S. et al (2013) Children’s exposure to second-hand smoke at home in Bangladesh: A community survey. BMJ Open 2013-003059.R2.
• Zafar Ullah A N, Huque R. et al (2012) Effectiveness of involving private medical sectors in the National TB Control Programme in Bangladesh: evidence from mixed methods. BMJ Open 2012-e-001534.
• Zafar Ullah A N, Akter S. et al (2012) Tuberculosis in the workplace: developing partnerships with the garment industries in Bangladesh. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 16(12):1637–1642.
• Zafar Ullah A N, Huque R, Newell J, Begum V and Gerein N. (2010) Role of private medical practitioners in TB Control in Bangladesh World Medical and Health Policy 2 (1) pp 217- 234.

HERD Intl. is a dynamic national non-governmental organization in Nepal promoting evidence informed policy and practices for sustainable development in health, environment and social sectors to improve quality of life. HERDi is an independent, non-profit NGO established by a group of skilled professionals with considerable experience in health systems and social development.

HERDi has a state-of- the art office environment located in Thapathali, Kathmandu, with 72 full time staff, 26 outreach workers and 62 volunteers. Furthermore, they have over 300 field researchers and consultants in the pool for short term recruitment. The team comprises professionals from various disciplines such as public health, demography, medical anthropology, social work, development studies, business administration and medicine. HERDi is deeply involved in TB and tobacco cessation in Nepal. Their staff work at every level; for example, they played a pivotal role with the National TB Control Programme in drafting TB Strategic Plans. HERDi also provides TB case finding services, through TB Reach, in 29 out of Nepal’s 58 municipalities. HERDi also has extensive research experience across Nepal, using a range of quantitative and qualitative approaches. In TB and Tobacco, HERDi is conducting all the implementation research within Kathmandu, working closely with government offices.

Meet the team

• Dr Sushil Baral is a leading public health specialist in Nepal with more than 20 years of experience in health systems strengthening health policy and planning and health service delivery in developing countries. Currently, as Executive Director of HERDi, he manages research and development projects in health, basic health service delivery and development in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) in Nepal. He also oversees the strategic design and implementation of scaling-up evidence-based cost-effective interventions in the health and development sectors, including research activities. Within TB and Tobacco, Dr Baral is leading the research as principal investigator in Nepal and is also an active member of the Project Management Board. His team consists of a trial coordinator, seven research assistant and two researchers, working to deliver all elements of the work packages in Nepal, in close collaboration with University of Leeds and supported by all WP-leaders. He also plays a pivotal role in liaising with NTP, Nepal to ensure the smooth running of the project and the uptake of the tobacco cessation strategies across TB services in Nepal.

• Ms Sudeepa Khanal is a public health professional with over 3 years’ work experience in various kinds of research and large scale project management. At HERD, she has been working extensively on operational research projects related to both communicable and non-communicable diseases, particularly tuberculosis, tobacco control and HIV/AIDS. She also has experience of independently leading teams conducting operational research on various public health issues and managing large scale surveys. Her expertise combines identifying gaps in health service delivery, understanding the needs of the stakeholder community, and designing/implementing appropriate intervention packages, as well as assessing their effectiveness. Ms Khanal works as a trial co-ordinator for the TB and Tobacco project at HERD International. Her responsibilities include managing the project activities within different work packages, and ensuring their timely completion. She reports to the principal investigator.

Publications

• Baral SC, Aryal Y, Bhattrai R, King R & Newell JN. (2014) The importance of providing counselling and financial support to patients receiving treatment for multi-drug resistant TB: mixed method qualitative and pilot intervention studies. BMC Public Health 14:46
• Baral S, Singh AB, Marasini B, Healey J, Thapa, D & Sinha, TK. (2013). Rapid Assessment of Local Health Governance Strengthening Program. USAID.
• Mirzoev TN, Baral SC, Karki DK, Green AT & Newell JN. (2008) Community-based DOTS and family member DOTS for TB control in Nepal: costs and cost-effectiveness. Cost Eff Resource Allocation 6: 20 doi:10.1186/1478-7547- 6-20.
• Baral SC, Karki DK & Newell JN. (2007) Causes of stigma and discrimination associated with tuberculosis in Nepal: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 7 p211.
• Deepak K, Karki DK, Tolib N, Mirzoev TN, Green AT, Newell JN & Baral SC. (2007). Costs of a successful public-private partnership for TB control in an urban setting in Nepal. BMC Public Health 7:84.

NTP has an overall vision of a Pakistan that is free of TB. NTP fights against tuberculosis in Pakistan, to reduce mortality, morbidity and spread of TB infection. The National TB Control Program is integrated with the Primary Health Care (PHC) system, which is implemented by the district health authorities with the support of Provincial TB Control Programs (PTPs). With the endorsement and implementation of the “Stop TB Strategy” in 2006, NTP strives to improve the performance and public health impact of country level TB programs, while mitigating the risks of drug resistance. NTP has an active research unit, evaluating current practice, assessing projects for increasing case finding (TB Reach) and conducting clinical trials, for example in the area of management of Multi Drug Resistant TB.

Meet the team

• Dr. Razia Kaniz Fatima is a public health specialist and epidemiologist with many years of experience of managing substantial projects within the Research Unit of the National TB Control Programme in Islamabad. She has detailed knowledge of the challenges facing implementation within TB programmes and is uniquely placed to facilitate the uptake and scale up of the intervention within NTP in Pakistan. Her experience of working within NTP is invaluable across our consortium. Dr Fatima is the principal investigator for the study in Pakistan. She is responsible for delivery of all work packages in Pakistan, with the support of the Initiative, Pakistan.

Publications

• Fatima R, Qadeer E, Enarson DA, Creswell J, Stevens R, Hinderaker SG, ul Haq M. (2014) Success of active tuberculosis case detection among high-risk groups in urban slums in Pakistan. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 18(9).
• Fatima R, Qadeer E, Enarson DA, Hinderaker SG, Harris R, Yaqoob A & Bassili A (2014): Public Health Action International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Health solutions for the poor Investigation of presumptive tuberculosis cases by private health providers: lessons learnt from a survey in Pakistan. Public Health Action 4(2).
• Fatima R, Harris R, Enarson DA, Hinderaker SG, Qadeer E, Ali K & Bassilli A (2014) Estimating tuberculosis burden and case detection in Pakistan. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 18(1):55-60.
• Bassili A, Fitzpatrick C, Qadeer E, Fatima R, Floyd K & Jaramillo E (2013) A systematic review of the effectiveness of hospital- and ambulatory-based management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 89(2):271-80.

The Initiative is a private, non-profit NGO based in Islamabad. The vision of The Initiative is to contribute towards an empowered society that strives for an improved quality of life. Its mission is to achieve its vision through building human capacity and systems with emphasis on the areas of public health research, education and environment, by addressing existing gaps. Thus, through research, partnership building and advocacy, it will strengthen the health system which eventually impacts the health of the common person within the prevalent socioeconomic milieu of the country.

The Initiative was established by a group of public health professionals that had been working closely with the University of Leeds and University of York on tobacco related projects. The Pakistan team is closely connected with the University of York (UoY). The team includes public health specialists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians and researchers.

The Initiative is specifically focused on tobacco related research- quantitative as well as qualitative. It has successfully implemented and published policy research and randomised controlled trials.

Meet the team

• Dr. Raana Zahid MBBS MPH, is a public health professional with 15 years’ experience in service delivery, program development, management, training and research. This includes: family planning in urban and rural settings, project development, planning, resource management, monitoring, reporting and dissemination, training health managers from public and private sectors, designing and pre-testing training materials and developing a facilitator guide for field staff and a Life Skills Curriculum for adolescents. The research experience includes policy analysis, qualitative studies, intervention/project evaluations, political mapping, stakeholder analysis and coordinating/implementing a randomized controlled trial (TBLASS). 
• Dr. Amina Khan is a public health professional and CEO of The Initiative since August 2013, based in Islamabad, Pakistan. Her main field of work and interest is research in tobacco control. Amina has experience of health policy, managing research and development projects, training, evidence based research and working in collaboration with international partners.
• Maryam Noor is a graduate in Socio-Cultural Anthropology, having almost four years’ experience in the research and development sector. Her main areas of interests are social and cultural anthropology, medical anthropology and ethnographic research. She has experience of developing indigenous questionnaires, translation and adaptation of tools according to local context, in-depth qualitative data collection, database design, qualitative and quantitative data analysis and report writing. Her emerging interest is in cultural and social elements which influence human psychology and mental health and how social suffering can be reduced by understanding this relationship. At present she is involved in research on “Cultural Aspects of Depression in Pakistan” as her M.Phil Thesis in Socio-Cultural Anthropology.

The Initiative is supporting NTP Pakistan in delivering all work packages in Pakistan. They provide trial coordination, research fellows and research assistants for carrying out field activities related to the work packages. The organisation also contributes to project meetings and help in study monitoring and dissemination activities. They have the responsibility of data collection, secure entry and transfer of data to work package leaders.

Publications

• Khan A, Huque R, Shah SK, Kaur J, Baral S, Gupta PC, Cherukupalli R, Sheikh A, Selvaraj S, Nargis N, Cameron I & Siddiqi K. (2014) Smokeless Tobacco Control Policies in South Asia: A Gap Analysis and Recommendations. Nicotine & Tob Res. 16(6):890-4.
• Maselko, J., Sikander, S., Bhalotra, S, Bangash, O., Ganga, N., Mukherjee, S., Egger, H., Franz, L., Bibi, A., Liaqat, R., Kanwal, M., Abbasi, T., Noor, M., Ameen, N. & Rahman, A. (2015) Effect of an early perinatal depression intervention on long-term child development outcomes: follow-up of the Thinking Healthy Programme randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Psychiatry 2(7):609-17.
• Safdar N, Zahid R, Shah S, Cameron I, Fatima R, Qureshi H & Siddiqi K. (2013) TB patients Learning About Second hand Smoke (TBLASS): a pilot individual randomized controlled trial. Springerplus 2: 556.

Heinrich-Heine University has a well-established medical faculty, internationally recognised for pioneering integration of basic research and clinical practice. Today, the Faculty of Medicine comprises 31 institutes, 30 clinics, and two central laboratory facilities.

Meet the team

• Prof. Daniel Kotz is an epidemiologist with special interest in tobacco research. He has published over 70 articles in international, peer-review journals - most of which relate to tobacco research. In particular, his work includes the assessment of behavioural and pharmacological aids to cessation. He has extensive experience in conducting smoking cessation trials, including one of the very few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of pharmacological and behavioural treatment for smoking cessation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Prof. Kotz is leading WP 4; coordinating across the three country contexts to ensure that all tasks required to collect the quantitative and qualitative data needed to understand the processes within the implementation of the trial are carefully assessed. He will ensure that all milestones and deliverables within WP4 are met and will contribute his experience and expertise to the other work packages. He is supported by a Research Fellow. An administrator, overseen by Prof. Kotz and based within UDUS is responsible for coordination of the procurement and supply of cytisine and placebo, CO breathalyser monitors and cotinine sampling strips to the teams in Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Publications

• Kotz D, Wesseling G, Huibers MJ, et al. (2009) Efficacy of confronting smokers with airflow limitation for smoking cessation. Eur Respir J 33:754-762.
• Kotz D, West R. (2009) Explaining the social gradient in smoking cessation: It's not in the trying, but in the succeeding. Tob Control 18:43-46.
• Kotz D, Wesseling G, Aveyard P, et al. (2011) Smoking cessation and development of respiratory health in smokers screened with normal spirometry. Respir. Med 105:243-249.
• Kotz D, Brown J, West R. (2014) Prospective Cohort Study of the Effectiveness of Smoking Cessation Treatments Used in the “Real World”. Mayo Clin. Proc. 89:1360-1367.
• Hoogsteder PHJ, Kotz D, van Spiegel PI, et al. (2014) Efficacy of the nicotine vaccine 3′-AmNic- rEPA (NicVAX) co-administered with varenicline and counselling for smoking cessation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Addiction 109:1252-1259.

The University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Population Health Sciences is a leading interdisciplinary grouping that draws together researchers, clinicians and practitioners from public health, primary care, biomedical and social sciences with expertise in epidemiology, statistics and modelling, sociology, social policy, psychology, economics, geography, health promotion, nursing and medicine. CPHS is home to over 200 research and research support staff, and approximately 55 PhD students. Its co-directors are Professors Aziz Sheikh and Harry Campbell. The Allergy and Respiratory Research Group is a well established research grouping within CPHS and this group pursues work in relation to the epidemiology, prevention, and management of respiratory disorders. Effective tobacco control measures play an essential role in this work, both in relation to primary prevention considerations and also in reducing the risk of disease progression. It also hosts the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research and the Scottish Allergy and Respiratory Academy, a national postgraduate training initiative. The work of the Allergy and Respiratory Research group is led by Aziz Sheikh.

Meet the team

• Professor Aziz Sheikh brings extensive experience of tobacco research in relation to the prevention and management of respiratory disorders. His involvement in over 120 research grants and over 300 publications underpins the invaluable advice and guidance he will bring to the team throughout the study. Professor Sheikh plays an advisory role throughout the project; supporting all work packages as needed and commenting on key outputs from the study. He also chairs the Study Management Team (SMT) meetings. See also Professor Sheikh's Harvard Catalyst profile.

Publications

• Been JV, Nurmatov UB, Cox B, Nawrot TS, van Schayck CP & Sheikh A. (2014) Effect of smoke-free legislation on perinatal and child health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 383(9928):1549-60.
• Davidson EM, Liu JJ, Bhopal R, White M, Johnson MR, Netto G, Wabnitz C & Sheikh A. (2013) Behavior change interventions to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations: a tool kit of adaptation approaches. Milbank Q. 91(4):811-51.
• Liu JJ, Wabnitz C, Davidson E, Bhopal RS, White M, Johnson MR, Netto G & Sheikh A. (2013) Smoking cessation interventions for ethnic minority groups-a systematic review of adapted interventions. Prev Med. 57(6):765-75.
• Civljak M, Stead LF, Hartmann-Boyce J, Sheikh A & Car J. (2013) Internet-based interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 10; 7:CD007078.
• Begh RA, Aveyard P, Upton P, Bhopal RS, White M, Amos A, Prescott RJ, Bedi R, Barton P, Fletcher M, Gill P, Zaidi Q & Sheikh A. (2011) Promoting smoking cessation in Pakistani and Bangladeshi men in the UK: pilot cluster randomised controlled trial of trained community outreach workers. Trials 12:197.

The University of Leeds is one of the world's top 100 universities and part of the Russell Group of leading UK universities. Within the University, the Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development aims to assist low and middle income countries to achieve universal health coverage. The team seeks to understand how health systems operate and what factors influence their effectiveness.

The University of Leeds develops and tests interventions appropriate to the context to see whether they are effective and cost-effective. They strengthen the capacity of health professionals to use their talents, education and professionalism to work effectively.

Alongside teaching, their research generates new knowledge to improve the health of communities in low and middle income countries. Their capacity development work seeks to assist policy makers and other decision makers to utilise a range of methods, evidence and tools in order to improve health system functioning.

Meet the team

• Dr Helen Elsey is a public health lecturer with 20 years’ experience in global public health and a member of the UK Faculty of Public Health. Her research areas have included tobacco prevention and cessation in high and low income settings and urban health in South Asia. She has published in journals such as Health Policy and Planning, the Journal of Primary Health Care Research and Development and BMJ Open. Beyond academia, she spent the first 10 years of her career working on community public health in Africa, so has a strong grounding in the realities facing communities and health services in a low income context. As a registrar, she spent 2012/13 working with HERD on public health research and health systems development in Nepal. Helen is leading WP1 and WP6 and ensuring that appropriate levels of technical support are provided to partners in Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan for the delivery of the tobacco cessation strategies, as well as the quantitative and qualitative data required to assess the sustainability of the project and support the uptake of the cessation strategies in the three countries and beyond. She will manage a research fellow (Dr. Sahil Warsi), based in Leeds who will support both WP1 and WP6.
• Professor James Newell has carried out research on TB care for more than 20 years. He has substantial experience in successfully designing and performing RCTs in low-income countries. For the last 10 years his work has largely focused on Asia, particularly Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. He has good understanding of the problems of implementing health interventions at scale in these countries, and the need to address these issues at the intervention design stage, to ensure that research findings lead to changes in policy and practice at large scale. He has close links with WHO: most recently, he was invited to a high-level WHO Consultation on Research for TB Elimination. 

Publications

• Newell JN, Baral SC, Pande SB, Bam DS, Malla P (2006). Family member DOTS and community DOTS for TB control in Nepal: district randomised trial. Lancet 367 (9514), 903-909.
• Elsey H, Mehta R, Thompson H, Mann G, Owiredu E & Siddiqi K. (2015) Do Children Overestimate the Extent of Smoking among their Peers? A Feasibility Study of the Social Norms Approach to Prevent Smoking in Schools. Addictive Behaviours 41:7-11.
• Elsey H, Kilonzo N, Tolhurst R & Molyneux C. (2005) Bypassing districts? Implications of sector-wide approaches and decentralization for integrating gender equity in Uganda and Kenya Health Policy and Planning. 20:150-157.
• Baral SC, Aryal Y, Bhattrai R, King R & Newell JN (2014). The importance of providing counselling and financial support to patients receiving treatment for multi-drug resistant TB: mixed method qualitative and pilot intervention studies. BMC Public Health 4:46.
• Zafar Ullah AN, Huque R, Husain A, Akter S, Akter H & Newell JN (2012). Tuberculosis in the workplace: developing partnerships with the garment industries in Bangladesh. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases 16(12):1637-1642.

Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze is managed by the Ministry of Health and is an independent legal entity. VFN provides health services, as well as educational and research activities, in close collaboration with the 1st Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague. VFN is one of the largest hospitals in the Czech Republic covering the entire population. The Centre for Tobacco Dependence is based within the 3rd Medical Department, First Faculty of Medicine and the General University Hospital, Charles University in Prague, where this study is based. The Centre has been in operation since 2005, treating more than 500 patients per year and providing support to smokers who want to quit. VFN bring years of experience of respiratory medicine and in particular, the delivery of treatments for tobacco addiction in a range of settings. Expertise in approaches to tobacco cessation has been developed in the clinic and research setting for over 10 years.

Meet the team

• Assoc. Prof. Eva Králíková MD, PhD is an epidemiologist and a teacher at the medical faculty, with significant experience in delivering and researching tobacco cessation.
• Iveta Nohavova MS is an oncology nurse by background and has worked in tobacco cessation, specifically nursing education in intervention in patients who smoke.
• Dr. Alexandra Pankova MD is a medical doctor, working at the medical department and treating tobacco dependence. She also teaches medical students.
• Dr. Kamila Zvolská MD, PhD is a medical doctor, working at the medical department and treating tobacco dependence. She also teaches medical students.

The VFN team is leading WP5; coordinating with other partners to guide the development of data collection tools and analysis required to understand the wider context of the delivery of tobacco cessation strategies within the three country contexts. The VFN team share their advice and expertise on the delivery of tobacco cessation strategies with the rest of the partners, thus contributing to other work packages.

Publications

• Králíková E, Kmeťová A, Štěpánková L, Zvolská K, Felbrová V, Kulovaná S, Bortlíček, Z, Blaha M & Fraser K.: Tobacco dependence, the most important cardiovascular risk factor: treatment in the Czech Republic. Phys Res. 63: Suppl. 3, S361 – S368 (IF 2013 1,487).
• Kmeťová A, Kraliková E, Štěpánková L, Zvolská, K, Blaha M, Sticha M, Bortlíček Z, Schroeder DR & Croghan IT. (2014) Factors associated with weight changes in successful quitters participating in a smoking cessation program. Addict Behav. 39 (1): 239-45.
• Králíková E, Kmeťová A, Zvolská K, Blaha M & Bortlíček Z. (2013) Czech adolescent smokers: unhappy to smoke but unable to quit, International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases 17 (6): 842-846.
• Králíková E, Kmeťová A, Štěpánková L, Zvolská K, Davis R & West R. (2013): Fifty-two week continuous abstinence rates of smokers being treated with varenicline versus nicotine replacement therapy. Addiction 108 (8):1497-502.
• Kmeťová A, Králíková E, Štěpánková L, Zvolská, K, Blaha M, Sticha M, Bortlíček Z, Schroeder DR & Croghan IT. (2014) Factors associated with weight changes in successful quitters participating in a smoking cessation program. Addict Behav. 39 (1) 239-45.