Dr. Mays's research focuses on behavioral cancer prevention among adolescents and young adults with specific interests in tobacco prevention and control. As a public health scientist, his research seeks to develop and examine the effects of public health communications, behavioral intervention programs, and policy/regulation to prevent and reduce tobacco use in youth and young adult populations. His research has a strong focus on tobacco regulatory science, conducting studies designed to guide federal regulation of tobacco products with specific interests in public education about the risks of tobacco use and tobacco product packaging and warning labels.