More than 250 million people consume smokeless tobacco in South Asia.
They risk developing cancer and dying prematurely.
ASTRA is an international group of scientists, clinicians, advocates and policy makers aiming to reduce the substantial burden of disease caused by smokeless tobacco.
Have a look at our video, about smokeless tobacco in Pakistan (you may need to turn on the subtitles on Youtube):
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- ASTRA is an interdisciplinary group, aiming to reduce the burden of disease caused by smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco is responsible for thousands of deaths every year, but has so far been neglected in policy and research.
- ASTRA’s international teams are carrying out policy research and developing interventions to address the problems caused by smokeless tobacco use in South Asia. Our focus is on Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, where 80% of the world’s smokeless tobacco users live, and where the most harmful types of smokeless tobacco are used.
- ASTRA is a three-year programme, with a budget of £2M, funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). We have recently been granted a one-year extension.