Dr. Madden has considerable expertise in diagnostic assessment and phenotype operationalization for genetic studies. She has a strong interest in the application of new genetic approaches in addiction research, pioneering the use of quantitative trait approaches in her own studies focused on cigarette smoking and tobacco dependence.

Her current research involves leadership of an international gene mapping project in which genetically informative data was collected from the Australian and Finnish families, to identify genes that contribute to vulnerability to dependence on nicotine and heavy smoking. This project includes extensive assessment also of alcohol use disorders and consumption patterns, because of their strong comorbidity with smoking and nicotine dependence.

In addition to her research activities, Dr. Madden has mentored several post-doctoral scholars in addiction genetics research and co-mentored many more with Dr. Andrew Heath. Together with Dr. John Rice, she co-directs a NIDA-funded R25 educational and training program which includes