View source for Philip Morris External Research Program

The '''Philip Morris External Research Program''', sometimes abbreviated as '''PMERP''', was an external [[research grant]] program founded in the fall of 2000 by [[Philip Morris International]], as an initiative of the company's Worldwide Scientific Affairs unit.<ref name=hirschhorn>{{cite journal|last1=Hirschhorn|first1=N.|title=Philip Morris' new scientific initiative: an analysis|journal=Tobacco Control|date=1 September 2001|volume=10|issue=3|pages=247–252|doi=10.1136/tc.10.3.247|pmid=11544389|pmc=1747596}}</ref> Its stated aim was to "address the concerns of the public health community regarding cigarette smoking".<ref name=hirschhorn/> During its eight-year history, it funded about 470 research proposals at 60 different medical schools,<ref name=science>{{cite journal|last1=Grimm|first1=D.|title=RESEARCH FUNDING: Philip Morris Pulls the Plug on Controversial Research Program|journal=Science|date=29 February 2008|volume=319|issue=5867|pages=1173a|doi=10.1126/science.319.5867.1173a|pmid=18309055|s2cid=39890112 }}</ref> and spent about [[US$]]200 million.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.richmond.com/entertainment/article_665df432-b0e9-55ec-bde4-667a826586a5.html | title=Program for young scientists is retired | work=Richmond Times-Dispatch | date=14 December 2008 | accessdate=24 August 2015 | author=Ress, David}}</ref> It has been compared to the [[Center for Indoor Air Research]] (CIAR); of the six members of PMERP's advisory board, three were affiliated with the CIAR (as of 2005).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bero|first1=LA|title=Tobacco industry manipulation of research.|journal=Public Health Reports|date=2005|volume=120|issue=2|pages=200–8|pmid=15842123|pmc=1497700|doi=10.1177/003335490512000215}}</ref> In addition, a 2001 paper co-authored by [[Norbert Hirschhorn]] states that the structure of PMERP's review panel is "nearly identical to that of the CIAR."<ref name=hirschhorn/> A 2006 paper analyzing grants awarded by PMERP, and peer-reviewed studies resulting from these grants, concluded that PMERP "appears to exist less as a conduit for critical scientific inquiry than to fit into a corporate strategy intended to burnish PM’s public image."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hirschhorn|first1=N|title=The Philip Morris External Research Program: results from the first round of projects|journal=Tobacco Control|date=1 June 2006|volume=15|issue=3|pages=267–269|doi=10.1136/tc.2005.012799|pmid=16728760|pmc=2564674}}</ref> In the fall of 2007 Philip Morris shut down the program, with their decision to do so first becoming publicly known in February 2008.<ref name=science/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://chronicle.com/article/Philip-Morris-Shuts-Down-Grant/40563 | title=Philip Morris Shuts Down Grant Program for University Research | work=Chronicle of Higher Education | date=29 February 2008 | accessdate=24 August 2015 | author=Huckabee, Charles}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Philip Morris International}}

[[Category:Organizations established in 2000]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Philip Morris USA]]
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