The leadership of CoEHAR and researchers from the Asian hub coordinated by Prof. Ronny Lesmana of the Padjadjaran University successfully concluded the first edition of the “Asia-Pacific Conference on smoking and tobacco harm reduction“. For the first time in the area, the event focused on science, innovative tools, and effective strategies for a smoke-free future in Indonesia.
BANDUNG, Indonesia, June 14, 2025 – On Saturday, June 14, the 2025 Asia-Pacific Conference on Smoking and Harm Reduction took place at the Padjadjaran University in Bandung, Indonesia. This international scientific event, promoted by the CoEHAR (Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction), was organized in collaboration with leading Asian universities. At the core of the conference, tobacco harm reduction (THR), addressed through scientific research, clinical applications, and proposals for more effective public health strategies.
The conference opened with institutional greetings from the Governor of West Java, H. Dedi Mulyadi, and the Rector of Padjadjaran University, Prof. Arief Sjamsulaksan Kartasasmita. It hosted key figures from CoEHAR, including founder Prof. Riccardo Polosa and director Prof. Giovanni Li Volti, alongside researchers and institutional representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region.
“For the first time in Indonesia, we created a moment of exchange and dialogue among some of the most prominent researchers and scholars in the region,” explained Prof. Giovanni Li Volti, CoEHAR director. “The Bandung meeting, made possible by the valuable collaboration of our partners at the Padjadjaran University through two of CoEHAR’s most important projects, showed how relying on scientific research results can lay the groundwork for changes in public health choices.”
Key moments of the conference included reports on CoEHAR’s ongoing projects: the REPLICA project, which validated the latest scientific evidence on the toxicology of traditional cigarettes and reduced-risk products in seven laboratories, also setting new international research standards; and the SMILE STUDY, which evaluated changes in oral health parameters in smokers who switched to reduced-risk products.
“The feedback we received has been overwhelmingly positive,” commented Prof. Riccardo Polosa. “In a country where smoking rates pose a major health challenge, creating an open and transparent communication channel based on scientific research offers a real opportunity to influence lifestyle choices among the Indonesian population. The support from local stakeholders and researchers is a milestone of our work, the result of a strong networking and collaboration effort that enabled us to build a unique scientific and cultural bridge.”
Great interest was shown for the topics addressed by the various speakers at the conference. Issues such as dermatological and ocular health, and the effects of smoking on athletic performance and military life, engaged both students and attendees.
“The number of smokers in Indonesia has increased by 8.8 million over the past ten years. Our country needs innovative strategies to tackle the impact of smoking on public health, and international collaborations like this one are key,” said Prof. Ronny Lesmana.
During the conference, the finalists of the International Talent Research Program and Award were presented. Now in its second edition, the initiative is coordinated by CoEHAR in Catania and was launched in 2021 under the Replica project. It is dedicated to young researchers from universities in low- and middle-income countries. The program offers financial support for independent research projects in harm reduction, with a focus on scientific excellence and potential health impacts. Candidates select their research topics, which are rigorously evaluated for their scientific merit and societal impact by a scientific committee. This year’s 2025 award winner was Dr. Ms. Intan Masyfufah.
The day concluded with a poster session, oral presentations by young researchers, and a gala dinner. The message was clear: science today offers tangible tools to reduce smoking-related harm, but international alliances, updated regulations, and an integrated vision across health, education, and research are needed.
The event reaffirmed CoEHAR’s role as a bridge between academic research, society, and public health, renewing its commitment to a global roadmap toward a smoke-free society.
