| | Welcome back. We’re getting closer to the Global Forum on Nicotine 2026 by the day and the excitement builds this week with the full details of GFN26 Science Lab! |
|
Once again, we were overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of submissions for GFN26 Science Lab – which isn’t surprising given the popularity of this aspect of the Global Forum on Nicotine since it was introduced to the event. |
|
Science Lab offers the opportunity for researchers working in tobacco harm reduction to present their work to the GFN26 audience through a science focussed 5-minute video. |
|
Selected entrants will join the session’s host and given up to 15 minutes to present the video and discuss their work. |
|
This year, we received several entries to GFN26 Science Lab which focussed on regulation, including the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive, and so we have added a fourth science lab session. |
|
What can we expect from the Science Lab at GFN26? All of this… |
|
Gizelle Baker, PhD, BCMAS, is Vice President of Scientific Affairs at Philip Morris International, working at the crossroads of science, public health, and the challenge of reducing smoking-related harm. Trained in biometry and epidemiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, she began her career in the pharmaceutical industry, contributing to clinical development across women’s health, oncology, cardiovascular disease, and prevention before moving into tobacco harm reduction research. |
|
Her career reflects a focus not only on generating evidence but on defending it in highly scrutinized environments. Gizelle has spent her career at the intersection of evidence generation, public health, and risk communication fields that increasingly determine not only what science shows but how society understands it. |
|
Her work aims to bring clarity to discussions on prevention and harm reduction, particularly regarding smoking-related harm, nicotine, and smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke. |
|
Gizelle will introduce: Anna Masser’s “Bridging the Epidemiological Evidence from Snus to nicotine Pouches” Anna Frazén’s “The Future of Nicotine Delivery” Lindsay Reese’s “Comprehensive Compositional Profiling of Nicotine Pouches” Anna Balconi’s “Comparative Assessment of Nicotine Stability: Conventional McC-Based vs. Novel Semi-Gel-Based Pouches”
|
|
Carrie Wade is a Senior Manager for Scientific Engagement for British American Tobacco in Europe. |
|
Carrie Wade joined British American Tobacco charged with contributing to Scientific Engagement efforts within Research & Science and Corporate & Regulatory Affairs. Previous to joining BAT in 2025, Carrie worked in Global Scientific Engagement at Philip Morris International in Lausanne and led the Harm Reduction Policy program at R Street Institute in Washington DC. |
|
Her academic background in the biological mechanisms of opioid addiction has informed her work in public health and harm reduction – her commitment to evidence-based drug policy was further strengthen during her time spent at the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition and Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research and work has been published across leading scientific journals, book chapters and media outlets. |
|
Carrie will introduce… Adam Lenart’s “Understanding Product Use Transitions in Underage and Adult Populations – Evidence from the PATH Study” Emilie Clerc’s “Consumer-Reported Outcome Measures” Marina Murphy’s “Nicotine Pouch Sales Trends in Scandinavia from 2018 to 2025” Tatsiana Pikirenia’s “This Is How Nasvay Is Made”
|
|
Host: Sudhanshu Patwardhan |
|
Sudhanshu Patwardhan is a British-Indian U.K.-licensed medical doctor, passionate about innovation in cancer prevention and early screening. Between 2000 and 2019, he lived and worked in three continents, holding senior roles in research, strategy and policy in the pharmaceutical and nicotine industries. For the past seven years, Sud has set up and grown ventures in strategic advisory and healthtech, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. |
|
Sud will introduce: Leonie Price’s “From Aerosol Chemistry to Real-World Use: Understanding The Impact of Heated Tobacco Products” Helen Cowie’s “Oral Health and Nicotine Products: Evaluating Risk Across a Continuum” Layla Malt’s “Blu Actual Use Study Secondary Analysis Results” Thomas Nahde’s “A Review of the Potential Impact of Novel Tobacco and Nicotine Products on Cardiovascular Health” Aylèn Van Isseldyk’s “Environmental Bioethics, Sustainability, RRPs, ENDs and HTTP: Why Tobacco Harm Reduction in Key”
|
|
Barnaby Page is editorial director of Tamarind Intelligence, the publisher of ECigIntelligence, TobaccoIntelligence and CannIntelligence. As a journalist he has been covering the worldwide reduced-risk nicotine sector since 2014, with a particular focus on public health and regulatory issues; in his current role he manages Tamarind’s editorial and reporting teams, producing a wide range of nicotine-related content. He has been participating in the Global Forum on Nicotine since its inception. Before coming into this field, Barnaby spent 30 years as a reporter and editor for newspapers, magazines and online services, specialising in technology and business. He is based near London. |
|
Barnaby will introduce: Carrie Wade’s “When Evidence is Missing: Challenges for Better Regulation” Ewelina Woike-Reguła and Robert Boneczko’s “Regulations Regarding Nicotine Pouches and E-cigarettes in Poland” Todd Prochnau’s “Canada’s Pharmacy-Centric Nicotine Pouch Regulation” Katarzyna Jarus-Dziedzic’s “From Regulation to Evidence: Why Clinical Research Matters More Than Ever” Fernando Briseño’s “Does Regulation Change What People Believe About Nicotine?”
|
|
You can watch discussions from GFN25 Science Lab here to help pass the time until GFN26. |
|
Let’s meet our media partner - Snusforumet |
|
Snusforumet is an editorial platform focused on raising awareness and improving understanding of Swedish snus and nicotine pouches. |
|
Published by the Association of Swedish Snus Manufacturers, Snusforumet aims to spread knowledge and facts about non-combustible nicotine products, public health policy, and harm reduction. It serves as a hub for research, regulatory developments, and news related to EU directives, national legislation, and market trends. |
|
The platform features analysis, expert contributions, and diverse perspectives, supporting informed discussion through accessible and reliable information. The site’s primary audience includes decision-makers, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders interested in issues related to snus and nicotine pouches. |
|
Which brings us to the end of another newsletter and one more week closer to GFN26 – which means it’s time to start checking our ‘to pack’ lists and charging up the mobile power banks for the airport wait!
The GFN Team |
|
|
| |
| |
|
