Dr. Drobes’ research program addresses cancer prevention through developing an improved understanding of risk factors and interventions for tobacco use and dependence. His work generally encompasses a broad perspective toward addictive behaviors, with a focus on genetic and environmental influences on nicotine/tobacco use, nicotine withdrawal, and combined tobacco/alcohol use. Recent studies have examined potential endophenotypes that may be associated with specific molecular risk factors for nicotine use and withdrawal, including genotypes associated with reward-related and cognitive neural processes. In a more applied vein, his laboratory is examining brief smoking cessation interventions, including the use of physical activity to control cognitive and affective disturbances during nicotine withdrawal. Current methodologies include cognitive and psychophysiological cue reactivity paradigms, event-related brain potential recordings, and measurement of smoking behavior via observational and smoking topography recording. The long-term goal of this research is to translate basic laboratory findings into improved smoking cessation treatments.