Virginia Commonwealth University · GeneticsMaes Substance Lab
Hermine H Maes · Richmond, Virginia
Research Focus
Dr. Hermine H. Maes leads a research lab focusing on how different factors influence substance use behaviors in adolescents. The lab studies both genetic and environmental influences on youth as they transition from experimenting with substances to potentially becoming regular users. By leveraging large longitudinal studies, including twin samples, the lab aims to understand when and how certain protective and risk factors influence these trajectories, thus informing prevention strategies that could help at-risk adolescents during crucial developmental periods.
substance useadolescencebehavioral factorsgenetic influencelongitudinal studiestwin studiesprevention strategiesreward sensitivitycognitive control
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the influence of internalizing and externalizing behaviors on substance use trajectories in adolescents.
AIM 02Examine how reward sensitivity and cognitive control affect the transition from substance initiation to regular use.
AIM 03Utilize longitudinal twin data to validate findings from the ABCD Study and support public health interventions.
Skills the Lab Values
data analysislongitudinal study designgenetic epidemiological methodsstatistical modelingsurvey designbehavioral assessmentstwin family studiesepidemiologic methodscognitive behavioral analysis
Output against the department
Publications283top 29% of dept.76th of 259
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations19ktop 31% of dept.79th of 259
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.