Centre for Substance Use Research (CSUR)
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Centre for Substance Use Research (CSUR), Tobacco Tactics, updated 07 August 2025, accessed 27 December 2025.
The Centre for Substance Use Research (CSUR) is based in Glasgow, Scotland and conducts consultancy and research for tobacco and e-cigarette companies. It has also received funding from Global Action to End Smoking (GAES), formerly the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW).
Background
Neil McKeganey founded the Centre for Drug Misuse Research at the University of Glasgow in 1994 to carry out research on Scotland’s drug problem. Its projects were funded by UK research councils and the UK government, among others. In 2011, the Centre became entirely independent of the University, 1 and was renamed the Centre for Substance Use Research (CSUR) in November 2015.2
In 2016, the University confirmed it was not in any way affiliated with CSUR and McKeganey no longer held any position there, honorary or otherwise.3
On its website CSUR describes itself as “global leader in behavioural science research for tobacco harm reduction and ENDS regulation” and “a specialist research agency assisting companies with the behavioural research required to obtain a marketing authorization through the Pre-Market Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) Process.”45
As of 2025, it stated:
“Centre for Substance Use Research Ltd is a “multidisciplinary research agency providing behavioural science support to companies submitting applications for PMTA, MRTP and TPD approval.”4
PMTA (Pre-Market Tobacco Applications) and MRTP (Modified Risk Tobacco Product applications) are specific to the US,6 and the TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) to the European Union.
Staff
The website states that “The team within CSUR comprises post-doctoral researchers in behavioural science, experts in marketing, cyber security, and media.”7
Neil McKeganey and Marina Barnard are Directors of CSUR.4
Christopher Russell, previously Deputy Director of CSUR,7 was listed as a Special Advisor of CSUR in 2023.8 Since 2019 he has been a director of Russell Burnett Research and Consultancy Ltd,9 which has “received funding from e‑cigarette/tobacco product manufacturers” to conduct research relating to nicotine and tobacco products.10
McKeganey and Russell have been listed as speakers at tobacco industry events including the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (GTNF), 111213 and the Tobacco Science Research Conference.14 while Russell has also appeared at the Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN).15161718
Russell was also listed as a speaker at the ‘New Approaches’ conference in 2023 and 2024. New Approaches is held annually at the Harvard Club of New York City, in the same week as the United Nations General Assembly.1920
For a list of staff see the CSUR website.
Relationship with the Tobacco Industry
Image 1: CSUR funding (Source: CSUR website, accessed June 2021)
CSUR has undertaken work for tobacco companies including Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT) and its subsidiary, Nicoventures, and Imperial Brands and its subsidiary Fontem Ventures (see Image 1).
CSUR also works with JUUL Labs, of which Altria held a minority share until March 2023, and has received funding from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (see below for details).21 CSUR has published multiple academic papers which declare support from either tobacco companies or their subsidiaries.222324
Opposed Plain Packaging in the UK
In 2014, McKeganey helped BAT oppose the introduction of Plain Packaging in the UK. McKeganey prepared a 82 page report for BAT which was included in the company’s submission to the UK’s second public consultation on plain packaging in 2014.2526 In the report, McKeganey supported BAT’s view that there was no evidence to suggest that plain packaging would reduce smoking prevalence, and that packaging was not “a factor that influences people’s decisions to start, stop, or re-start smoking”.2526
In May 2016, dismissing the legal challenges to the UK’s plain packaging legislation brought by the ‘Big Four’ tobacco companies, the High Court of Justice’s ruling criticised McKeganey’s findings and the methodology they were based on:26
“What I find unacceptable is the preparation of a report which by its total refusal to engage with any of this contramaterial simply conveys the impression that it does not exist and that the best way to refute it is to ignore it. Yet, at the same time and inconsistently, Professor McKeganey accepts that the principles of transparency and openness are “foundational tablets of the scientific enterprise”. Had Professor McKeganey confronted head-on the contrary evidence, including that from the tobacco companies, then it is hard to see how he could have advanced the opinions that he did; at the very least he would have been compelled to provide a proper rationale for why his opinion could be sustained in the light of this inconsistent evidence.”
Work with JUUL Labs
McKeganey and CSUR worked for e-cigarette company JUUL Labs. which was 35% owned by U tobacco giant Altria between December 2018 and March 2023.27 A number of outputs written with CSUR are published on the JUUL Labs website.28 Others are listed on the CSUR website.22 Some have been co-authored by PinneyAssociates, which also works with JUUL Labs and tobacco companies.28
In March 2019, JUUL Labs funded a study by CSUR which found that JUUL e-cigarettes “dramatically” cut adult smokers’ cigarettes consumption.29 This paper was published in the Journal of Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, which has been described as a “predatory journal”.3031
In 2021, CSUR contributed a paper to a special issue of the American Journal of Health Behavior, sponsored by JUUL Labs.3233 The paper was co-authored with JUUL Labs and PinneyAssociates. There was criticism of the journal, which defended the publication of the special issue.34
In July 2025, CSUR announced on its LinkedIn page that it had played “a key role in JUUL’s recently authorized device and Tobacco and Menthol pods by designing and conducting the majority of the perception and behavioral research supporting their PMTA”.35
Received Funding from GAES/FSFW
The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) was fully funded by Philip Morris International (PMI) under a multi-year pledge (2018-2023).36 Though it was rebranded as Global Action to End Smoking (GAES) in May 2024, GAES continues to operate on the remaining PMI funds and the returns on investments made with those funds. For more information, see Global Action to End Smoking.363738 FSFW awarded two grants to CSUR in May 2018 totalling US$189,004. One grant for US$96,063 was provided to “develop a centre of excellence in behaviour research related to smoking cessation”, while another for US$92,941 was provided for research on the “determinants and impact of switching to reduced risk products”.39
In 2022 CSUR received another grant from FSFW of US$154,564 to “Develop a protocol for an intervention trial to assess the long-term health effects of switching from combustibles to tobacco harm reduction products among Type 2 diabetic smokers in Bangladesh”.40 Advocacy and research organisation PROGGA, expressed concerns around the study, stating “The timing of this campaign is particularly concerning, as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is currently working on amending the tobacco control law, which could potentially ban e-cigarettes and vaping altogether”.41
In 2023, FSFW awarded CSUR a grant of US$231,847 to “Develop a protocol for an intervention trial to assess the long-term health effects of switching from combustibles to tobacco harm reduction products among Type 2 diabetic smokers in Bangladesh”.38
Participated in roundtable with MSPs
On 12 February 2021, Holyrood Magazine hosted a video conference roundtable about the role e-cigarettes could play in meeting Scotland’s target of a tobacco free generation by 2034. The meeting was attended by MSPs Donald Cameron (Conservatives), Emma Harper (SNP), Richard Lyle (SNP) and Brian Whittle (Conservatives).42
CSUR co-director Neil McKeganey was also present, stating that despite substantial progress in reducing smoking in Scotland, “we are still not seeing the smoking end game” and that “there is an obligation on us to consider what role e-cigarettes can play in further reducing smoking prevalence”.43 Other speakers included representatives from the Scottish Grocers’ Federation and We Vape.43
“Flagship” Studies
Annual study on e-cigarette use
CSUR’s website stated that in 2021 it would be conducting the first of an annual study of “Real-World ENDS Use”, stating:
“What has been missing in this [ENDS, or e-cigarette research] are studies assessing the relative impact of different brands and types of ENDS devices. In 2021 CSURES [sic] will undertake research assessing 9 of the top ENDS devices on sale in the U.K. comparing the relative rates with which these devices are enabling adult smokers in the US and U.K. to quit and reduce their cigarette consumption”.44
Tobacco products prevalence study
In 2021, CSUR launched a study on prevalence and patterns of use of different e-cigarette brands and products in the US.45
According to its website stated, the study aimed:
“to estimate the prevalence and patterns of use of 20 ENDS brands and over 200 ENDS devices sold in the United States. This research is designed to provide ENDS manufacturers with population-level use data on their products for submission to FDA in seeking PMTA approval.”45
In 2023, the study was expanded to include heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.46 Brands monitored in the study included those owned by Japan Tobacco International, Altria, BAT and Imperial Brands.47
Paper on single-use e-cigarettes
CSUR received funding from BIDI (Kaival Brands) towards the publication of a paper on the prevalence of the use of single use, or ‘disposable’ e-cigarettes in the US.48 The paper was cited by Bidi Vapour in a press release published in July 2023, which stated that its ‘disposable’ products were “not implicated in the recent growth in the use of disposable e-cigarettes by U.S. youth”.49 In July 2022, PMI began marketing Kaival’s single use e-cigarette outside of the US as VEEBA, later renamed VEEV NOW.50
- For details see E-cigarettes: Tobacco Company Interests in Single Use Products
Relevant Links
TobaccoTactics Resources
- JUUL Labs
- Global Action to End Smoking
- Foundation for a Smoke-Free World
- Foundation for a Smoke-Free World Centres of Excellence
- PinneyAssociates