ABOUT US!

The Health, Behaviors, and Tobacco Use Research Lab at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is dedicated to using translational science to conduct human subject research that is not only scientifically rigorous but also has real-world implications for public health. By investigating the complex relationship between health behaviors and tobacco use, we strive to contribute to the development of evidence-based strategies for tobacco control and improve health outcomes.

The overarching goals of our lab are:

1. to enhance our understanding of the impact of smoking on dependence and health outcomes; and 

2. to support community awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and inform the development of public policies related to tobacco use. 

We are particularly interested in understanding how product characteristics, particularly flavoring, may impact biological and psychological functioning, including nicotine metabolism, inflammatory response, stress response, and reward processes. 

We use a range of research methods to accomplish these goals, including biospecimen collection, longitudinal clinical trials, ecological momentary assessments, laboratory experimental studies, and utilizing data from national datasets. Much of our work also focuses on populations who are disproportionately affected by cigarette smoking and tobacco use, including various minoritized or clinical populations, who continue to experience high rates of smoking despite the overall decline of tobacco use in the US.

We are committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and scientific excellence.