UCSF

INTRODUCTION: The Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco began in the United States as a scientific organization to stimulate the generation and dissemination of new knowledge concerning nicotine and tobacco in all its manifestations. Now in its 30th year, the Society is taking on new challenges in tobacco control, nicotine vaping, product regulation, and public policy. AIMS AND METHODS: This Review describes the formative years of the Society from the perspective of researchers who were in leadership positions during that time, documenting how biobehavioral and clinical research in the first 10 years was a continuation of the scientific mission of the 1988 United States Surgeon Generals Report on Nicotine Addiction and summarizing organizational innovations during each presidents term of office. CONCLUSIONS: The Societys promotion of scientific research served as a catalyst for funding, policy, and regulation, setting the stage for its influence and credibility. IMPLICATIONS: This Commentary provides context and an overview of the scientific research and the organizational innovations that occurred during the early years of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco using publications and available documentation. The Society was able to thrive because biobehavioral research on nicotine addiction provided the scientific underpinnings for the tobacco control enterprise as a whole. The objective of this Commentary is to describe formative events in the Societys history based on the accomplishments of its early leaders.