Dr. Brooks' research is focused mainly on occupational and environmental respiratory disorders, especially occupational asthma, irritant-induced asthma and reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. A clinical study showed that prolonged irritant exposure was responsible for initiation of new-onset asthma in persons with an allergic predisposition. Laboratory studies addressed the influence of IgE on beta-adrenergic responsiveness and nitric oxide production using culture bronchial epithelial cell. IgE caused marked suppression of beta-agonist induced cAMP production and reduced nitric oxide synthesis. A clinical study examined the role of host factors, especially atopy on the response of individuals to poor indoor air quality. Persons most affected by poor indoor air quality are persons with allergic disorders, including allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and bronchial asthma. Another clinical study was the initiation of a pharmaceutical investigation examining the role of a new chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellent substitute for metered dose inhalers used to treat asthma. An investigation concerned the role of administrative factors and psychosocial events in perpetuating "sick building" situations. Poor management and failure to deal with employee communication and risk perception issues resulted in failure to resolve "sick building syndrome" situations.

Dr. Brooks has developed a laboratory to study acute lung injury using non-invasive techniques. A recent study showed that building related asthma was due to non-allergic causes and perhaps evaluation on reactive molecules via indoor air chemical reaction with VOCs and terpenes. A recent investigation reported indoor air quality problems from mold were not due to toxic properties of mold. Rather, dampness and other chemical factors were more important.