institute for the struggle against the dangers of tobacco institute for the struggle against the dangers of tobacco the institute for the struggle against the dangers of tobacco (german: wissenschaftliches institut zur erforschung der tabakgefahren) was set up at the university of jena in 1942. it was one of the first scientific institutes to discover the dangers of smoking tobacco, including the link between smoking and lung cancer. however, due to its relationship with the ruling nazi regime (it was supported in part by adolf hitler's funds), its work was not taken seriously after the second world war.