Epidemiology Laboratory

Institute for Behavioral Genetics

IBG 256
Department of Integrative Physiology
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0447
Phone: 303-735-5158
Fax: 303-492-8063

Research Interests

As an epidemiologist and applied biostatistician, my research objectives are focused on the development and application of advanced biostatistical and epidemiological methods to advance our understanding of human disease etiology. The complex nature of human disease necessitates a multidisciplinary approach that includes genetic, physiological, behavioral and environmental research. Towards that end, I have embraced highly integrative and collaborative research that approaches complicated outcome measures in a comprehensive manner. Areas that broadly define my research include the epidemiology of behavior (HIV-risk behaviors, obesity), psychiatric disorders (substance use and dependence, conduct disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) and neurologic disorders (Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis). For more information, visit http://ibg.colorado.edu/~mcqueenm.

Personnel

  • Director: Matthew B. McQueen, Sc.D.

  • Post-doctoral Fellow: Maureen Muchimba, Ph.D.

  • Research Associates: Brett Haberstick, Ph.D., Joanna Ziegler, Ph.D.

  • Graduate Students: Adam Bohr, M.S., Megan Burton, B.A., Dan Howrigan, M.S., Matt Simonson, B.A.

  • Undergraduate Students: TBA

  • IT Manager: Jeff Lessem, Ph.D.

  • Database Manager: Rose Rahman, M.S.

  • Web Developer: Andy Gross, M.S.

  • Collaborators: Robin Corley, Marissa Ehringer, Brett Haberstick, John Hewitt, Tom Johnson, Andy Smolen, Mike Stallings, Susan Young (Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder); Roger Enoka, Moni Fleshner, Doug Seals, Chris DeSouza (Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder); Robin Dowell, Ken Krauter (Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder); Matt Keller, Soo Rhee (Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Boulder); Jason Boardman (Department of Sociology, University of Colorado Boulder); Tiejun Tong (Department of Applied Math, University of Colorado Boulder); Michael Allen, Tom Crowley, Christie Hartman, Christian Hopfer, Susan Mikulich-Gilbertson, Joe Sakai (Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Center); Sara Yeatman (Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado Denver); Nan Laird, Christoph Lange (Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health); Goncalo Abecasis (Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan);Deborah Blacker (Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health); Jessica Lasky-Su (Channing Laboratory, Harvard Medical School); Rudy Tanzi (MGH Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease); Lars Bertram (Max Planck Institute, Berlin, Germany); Bernie Devlin (Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine).

Left to right: Matt McQueen, Matt Simonson, Dan Howrigan, Rose Rahman, Andy Gross, Jeff Lessem.

Current Research Projects

  • Epidemiology of Behavior

    • Substance use and HIV risk behavior
    • Genetics of substance use and abuse
    • Effect of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana on body mass (obesity)
    • Gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions and body mass (obesity)

  • Epidemiology of Psychiatric and Neurologic Disorders

  • Collaborative Projects

    • Gene-expression profile of stress resistance
    • Nicotinic receptor subunit genes and smoking behaviors
    • Gene-by-environment interaction in substance abuse

Opportunities for Undergraduates

The requirements for undergraduates who want a research experience in human epidemiology, including genetic approaches are:

  • Either have completed or be currently enrolled in IPHY 2800 (Introductory Statistics)
  • Have an interest in using epidemiological and statistical tools to study health outcomes
  • Enroll in Independent Study (i.e. IPHY 4860) for 8-10 hours/week for at least one semester.

Videos

Recent Publications

  • Boardman JD, Blalock CL, Corley RP, Stallings MC, Domingue BW, Mcqueen MB, Crowley TJ, Hewitt JK, Lu Y, Field SH. Ethnicity, body mass, and genome-wide data. Biodemography and Social Biology 56: 123-136, 2010.

  • Haberstick BC, Lessem JM, McQueen MB, Boardman JD, Hopfer CJ, Smolen A, Hewitt JK. Stable genes and changing environments: body mass index across adolescence and young adulthood. Behavior Genetics 40: 495-504, 2010.

  • Howrigan DP, Laird NM, Smoller JW, Devlin B, McQueen MB. Using linkage information to weight a genome-wide association of bipolar disorder. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics 156B: 462-471, 2011.

  • Power MC, Weuve J, Gagne JJ, McQueen MB, Viswanathan A, Blacker D. The Association Between Blood Pressure and Incident Alzheimer Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Epidemiology 22: 646-659, 2011.

  • Rikke BA, Liao CY, McQueen MB, Nelson JF, Johnson TE. Genetic dissection of dietary restriction in mice supports the metabolic efficiency model of life extension. Experimental Gerontology 45: 691-701, 2010.

  • Sakai JT, Stallings MC, Crowley TJ, Gelhorn HL, McQueen MB, Ehringer MA. Test of association between GABRA2 (SNP rs279871) and adolescent conduct/alcohol use disorders utilizing a sample of clinic referred youth with serious substance and conduct problems, controls and available first-degree relatives. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 106: 199-203, 2010.

  • Schjeide BM, McQueen MB, Mullin K, DiVito J, Hogan MF, Parkinson M, Hooli B, Lange C, Blacker D, Tanzi RE, Bertram L. Assessment of Alzheimer's disease case-control associations using family-based methods. Neurogenetics 10: 19-25, 2009.

Funding

  • 2008-2012, NIH/NIDA R01, "Genetics of Adolescent Antisocial Drug Dependence (COMRAD)" (PI: Hewitt).
  • 2009-2014, NIH/NIDA P60, "Center on Antisocial Drug Dependence: The Genetics of HIV Risk Behaviors", Core B: Data Management, Informatics and Biostatistics (Boulder PI: McQueen; Denver PI: Mikulich-Gilbertson).
  • 2009-2014, NIH/NIDA P60, "Center on Antisocial Drug Dependence: The Genetics of HIV Risk Behaviors", Component 1: Genetics of Adolescent Antisocial Drug Dependence and HIV-Related Risk Factors (Boulder PI: McQueen; Denver PI: Hopfer).
  • 2009-2014, NIH/NIAAA R01, "Translational Studies of Nicotinic Receptor Genes: Alcohol and Nicotine Behaviors" (PI: Ehringer).
  • 2009-2011, NIH/NIDA R01, "Gene-Environment Interplay in the Development of Drug Abuse and Comorbid Problems" (PI: Hill; subcontract: McQueen).
  • 2010-2011, DARPA/DOD, "Enabling Stress Resistance with Controllable Exercise" (PI: Fleshner).
  • 2010-2011, NIH/NIDA P60 Pilot, "Assessing Alcohol and Substance Use in Balaka, Malawi" (PI: McQueen).
  • 2010-2015, NIH/NICHD R01, "Social Demographic Moderation of Genome-Wide Associations for Body Mass Index" (PI: McQueen, Boardman).
  • 2010-2015, NIH/NIDA R01, "A Genetic Study of Personal Traits that Promote or Inhibit Individual Well-Being" (PI: Conger, Stallings).
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