Theodore Wagener

Theodore Wagener is a Professor and the Leonard J. Immke, Jr. and Charlotte L. Immke Endowed Chair in Cancer Research at The Ohio State University. He holds primary appointments in the Department of Internal Medicine and a secondary appointment in the Department of Psychology. He serves as Director of the Center for Tobacco Research and Co-Leader of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James. His research focuses on tobacco regulatory science, including evaluating behavioral, pharmacological, and toxicological effects of tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, oral nicotine products, and hookah.

• Education:
• PhD in Clinical Psychology (Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine), Oklahoma State University
• Psychology Residency and T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Brown University

His research interests include tobacco use cessation, secondhand smoke reduction interventions, and regulatory strategies for e-cigarette marketing and flavor additives. He has secured over $50 million in NIH and FDA funding since 2012, supporting program projects and center grants. His work has been published in high-impact journals like NEJM, JAMA, and Tobacco Control. He mentors students and early-career researchers, many of whom have pursued prestigious academic and clinical roles.

Current lab studies include investigations into e-cigarette usage patterns, nicotine delivery mechanisms, and flavor impact on tobacco initiation. Collaborations span psychology, epidemiology, chemistry, and cancer biology to inform public health policy.