Replica project: degree at the University of Catania
The summer graduation session at the University of Catania was held last week.
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First interlaboratory study in the world to replicate and validate high-profile studies on the cytotoxicity and inflammation induced by cigarette smoke and aerosol from electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
The Replica project team uses the most advanced tools and techniques and the most reliable methodologies to provide to the public up-to-date information on ENDS.
Testing the latest generation of alternative products to conventional cigarettes
To inform on the detrimental health effects of smoke, while accelerating efforts for the understanding, knowledge, and research capacity in the area of tobacco harm reduction and its role to end smoking, to better serve our worldwide communities.
Replica project coordinates a multi-center research network of academic and affiliated laboratories worldwide.
Since 2019 the team has been conducting inter-laboratory studies comparing the latest generation of alternative products (i.e. ECIGs and HTPs) to traditional tobacco cigarettes, and replicating results from in vitro research published on high impact journals to assess validity of the original work put under scrutiny.
CoEHAR Founder
CoEHAR Director and Project Leader
Co-project leader
Non-reproducible studies result in economic damage and prevents innovation, can harm individuals and erode public trust in science.
Replica Project addresses the need to standardize research through reproducibility and provides reliable scientific data on ENDS.
Replicate
high-profile in vitro studies testing ENDS
Assess validity of the original work put under scrutiny
Inform the scientific academia and the public of the progress
Contribute to improve local and international THR policies
The harmonization process required for all scientific documentation, materials, laboratories set up and experiments management is enriched by partner cultural diversity which prevents scientific bias or product stigma.
Commitment to pre-established design, methods and data analysis ensures value and credibility of scientific findings based on Reproducibility, while Multiple Methodology Comparison contributes to strengthen or debunk the original evidence.
Knowledge sharing of the leading center know-how with our international laboratory network is our priority. We have developed communication strategies of our technical expertise through multimedia methodologies.
Each project phase has been designed and managed following open science principles. Project result are shared in open access journals and repositories. Open education & training, inclusivity and open research characterize all our work.
The team replicated and validated the result of some of the most relevant studies in the field of tobacco harm reduction: overall, the data obtained independently in different laboratories clearly confirm the reduced cytotoxicity of ENDS products compared with smoking, the reduced impact of ENDS on vascular system and consequently the onset of atherosclerosis, and the reduced genotoxicity and mutagenicity of ENDS.
Ecig is 95% less harmful than traditional cigarette
We implemented a small carbon footprint laboratory set up in several universities across the world. The compact exposure systems are ideal for carbon conscious laboratories. It has been proved to be useful for hard to reach or disadvantaged geopolitical areas. Replica is the first interlaboratory network with identical harmonized vaping and smoking exposure equipment. This feature is amenable for replication studies, for training harmonization and for tackling common technical issues. Because of its characteristics it has allowed our research to follow Open Science principle of inclusion, diversity among our partners and sustainable development.
Advances in communication technologies provide opportunities for conducting quality research. The Replica Zoom support is the first interactive tobacco harm reduction in vitro training platform. Born from the international interlaboratory need to communicate during Covid 19 Pandemic, this tool has been proven a success in brainstorming and solving technical laboratory issues across the globe.
A team of international researchers from different countries will attend the event coordinated by CoEHAR to launch the new era of Replica.
The Leading Center has started a Research Exchange for Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars coming from LMIC academic institutions. The candidates will train for several weeks to learn new research techniques related to Tobacco Studies, find mentors and start new research collaborations.
The summer graduation session at the University of Catania was held last week.
The Indonesian partners of the Replica 2.0 project organized a workshop on smoking
In early May, Dr. Rosalia Emma and Dr. Konstantinos Partsinevelos completed a four-day
Today, Tuesday May 09, the University of Kragujevac in collaboration with the Center
The CoPI of the Replica 2.0 project, prof. Massimo Caruso, held a seminar
