Helen M Kamens

Helen M Kamens is the Broadhurst Career Development Professor for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and an Associate Professor in Biobehavioral Health at Pennsylvania State University. She is affiliated with the Penn State Cancer Institute and Penn State Neuroscience Institute. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being.

Research focuses on neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction, particularly nicotine, alcohol, and opioid behaviors. She investigates stress effects, nicotinic receptor roles, and epigenetic factors influencing substance use. Key projects include NIH-funded studies on opioid consumption mechanisms (NIDA), genetic moderation of nicotine dependence (NCI), and alcohol/nicotine genetics (NIAAA).

Recent publications explore miRNA regulation under stress, epigenetic mediation of BMI disparities, and neuroimaging of opioid exposure in animal models. Her work bridges preclinical models and human health outcomes, emphasizing translational research.

Current grants include a 2024-2025 NIDA project on neural mechanisms of opioid use. Past grants addressed alcohol-induced stimulation (NIAAA) and gene-smoking interactions in nicotine dependence (NCI).