His general interests are in psychiatric epidemiology and behavioral and psychiatric genetics. His research focuses on genetic influences on psychopathology, substance abuse, and aging.

He is currently principal investigator on the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA) supported by a grant from NIA. In this study, twins who served in the military during the Vietnam War are administered a comprehensive protocol that includes MRI, sensory functioning, relevant biomedical characteristics, psychosocial functioning, neuro-endocrine status, and genotyping; the primary emphasis of the study is on cognitive functioning (including the re-administration of a measure of general cognitive ability that was administered at the time these men entered the military 30 to 40 years ago).

Previously Dr. Lyons was the principal investigator on a family study of schizophrenia funded by NIMH and a twin study of alcohol abuse funded by NIAAA. Dr. Lyons teaches Advanced Psychopathology and Abnormal Psychology. He is a fellow and an officer of the American Psychopathological Association and Associate Editor of the journal, Behavior Genetics.