Dr. Shanks' Lab focuses on research involving genetic abnormalities related to production or survival; experimental and observational quantitative genetics; biochemical genetics; health and disease resistance; genetic and economic aspects of dairy cattle breeding.

The lab was started in 1979 when Dr. Shanks started as an assistant professor at the University of Illinois. Early works for the lab included research on the inheritance of uridine monophosphate (UMP) synthase in Holstein cattle, and atresia coli (restricted or blocked intestines).