Research Summary

Dr. Cheng is a Professor in the UCSF Division of Oral Epidemiology & Dental Public Health and Division of Biostatistics. She is also the Director of Statistics and Informatics Core at Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, a member in the UCSF Center to Address Disparities in Children's Oral Health (CAN DO), the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Dr. Cheng is a well-known biostatistician and 2020 Chair of the American Statistical Association Section on Statistics in Epidemiology. Dr. Cheng is Associate Editor and on editorial board of several scientific journals, and has been invited to provide scientific review for 30 scientific journals, NIH/NIDCR special review panels, and NIH/CSR Clinical Oncology Study Section.

Education

West China University of Medical Sciences, China, M.D., 06/1994, Preventive Medicine
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, M.S., 08/2002, Nutrition (minor in Epidemiology)
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Ph.D., 08/2006, Biostatistics (minor in Epidemiology)

Honors & Awards

  • 1991-1993
    University Outstanding Student, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
  • 1994
    University Outstanding Graduating Senior, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
  • 1999
    Marion Fish Cox Fellowship, Cornell University
  • 2000
    Vincent Woo J.P. Fellowship, Cornell University
  • 2002
    Richard Barnes Fellowship, Cornell University
  • 2002
    GSK Scholarship Award, University of Pennsylvania
  • 2005
    International Biometrics Society ENAR Distinguished Student Paper Award
  • 2007
    Saul Winegrad Award for Outstanding Dissertation, University of Pennsylvania
  • 2007
    New Researcher Travel Grant, Institute of Mathematical Statistics

Selected Publications

  1. Yang Y., Chen L., Cheng J., Zhang G., Song Q., Chen W., and Liu Y. (2025). Body size changes and social determinants: Effects on rheumatoid arthritis, complications, and life expectancy in middle-aged and older adults  View on PubMed
  2. Downey A, Gorrell S, Mehta A, Cheng J, Kapphahn C, LeGrange D, Vendlinski S, Buckelew S, Kreiter A, Marsal B, Moscicki A, Golden N, Garber A Hypometabolism in Patients With Atypical Anorexia Nervosa: Baseline Findings From the Individualized-Study of Refeeding to Optimize Inpatient Gains (Istrong)  View on PubMed
  3. Almeida R, Unlu Y, Navabzadeh M, Cheng J, Tran L, Springer M, Mohammadi L Current cannabis use is associated with increased indexes of diastolic dysfunction in adults: A retrospective analysis  View on PubMed
  4. Mertz EA, Liang S, Schwarz E, Brandon R, Kottek AM, Cheng J, Gansky SA, Skourtes N, Sinnott M, Jenson LE, White JM Improving children's use of care in Oregon: The role of a novel dental accountable care organization  View on PubMed
  5. Lisha NE, Vora M, Chaffee BW, Cheng J Identifying and Understanding Use Trajectories of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes.  View on PubMed
  6. Hawes MR, Chakravarty D, Cheng J, Handley MA, Tsoh JY, Lin TK, Hiatt RA, Vijayaraghavan M The Healthy Homes Study: Protocol for a cluster randomized trial of a place-based smoke-free home intervention in affordable housing.  View on PubMed
  7. Elias A, Tung R, Gerstenfeld EP, Hue TF, Lin F, Cheng J, Weiss JP, Tzou WS, Hsia H, Ehdaie A, Cooper DH, T. Bunch J, Arkles J, Nazer B, Lee A, Hadjis A, Nguyen DT, Chelu MG, Moss JD, Hsu JC, Valderrábano M, Bhave PD, Montenegro G, Kim AS, Dillon WP, Marcus GM. Leveraging a randomized trial to assess relationships between transeptal puncture, brain emboli, and migraine symptoms.  View on PubMed
  8. Mohammadi L, Navabzadeh M, Jiménez-Téllez N, Han DD, Reagan E, Naughton J, Zhou LY, Almeida R, Castaneda LM, Abdelaal SA, Park KS, Uyemura K, Cheung CP, Onder MN, Goyal N, Rao P, Hellman J, Cheng J, Wu JC, Marcus GM, Springer ML. Association of Endothelial Dysfunction With Chronic Marijuana Smoking and THC-Edible Use. JAMA Cardiol. 2025 May 28.  View on PubMed
  9. Marcus GM, Tung R, Gerstenfeld EP, Hue TF, Lin F, Cheng J, Weiss JP, Tzou WS, Hsia H, Ehdaie A, Cooper DH, Bunch TJ, Arkles J, Nazer B, Lee A, Hadjis A, Nguyen DT, Chelu MG, Moss J, Hsu JC, Valderrábano M, Bhave PD, Beaser AD, Kanagasundram A, Wazni O, Bradfield J, Wall G, Chang K, Yang M, Montenegro G, Jarrott S, Kramer JH, Kim AS, Morris YM, Dillon WP. Left Ventricular Entry to Reduce Brain Lesions During Catheter Ablation: A Randomized Trial. Circulation. 2025 Feb 24.  View on PubMed
  10. Downey AE, Kapphahn CJ, Gorrell S, Vendlinski SS, Cheng J, Le Grange D, Accurso EC, Buckelew SM, Kreiter A, Marsal B, Wright P, Golden NH, Garber AK The Effect of Preadmission Energy Balance on Short-Term Medical Outcomes: Findings From the Study of Refeeding to Optimize Inpatient Gains.  View on PubMed
  11. Huang AJ, Subak LL, Rowen TS, Schembri M, Raghunathan H, Gibson C, Pawlowsky S, Cheng J, Chao MT. A Multisite Randomized Feasibility Trial of a Remotely Delivered Pelvic Yoga Program for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. J Integr Complement Med. 2024 Dec 26.  View on PubMed
  12. Yank V, Santoyo-Olsson J, Cheng J, Lorig K, Gallagher-Thompson D, Chesla C, Karliner L, Covinsky KE, Romo EM, Luzanilla M. Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors. Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Dec; 20 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):e087787.  View on PubMed
  13. Fung CH, Huang AJ, Markland AD, Schembri M, Martin JL, Bliwise DL, Cheng J, Alessi CA, Johnson TM, Burgio KL, Muirhead L, Neymark A, Der-Mcleod E, Sergent T, Chang A, Bauer SR, Spencer C, Guzman A, Vaughan CP A multisite feasibility study of integrated cognitive-behavioral treatment for co-existing nocturia and chronic insomnia.  View on PubMed
  14. Star JM, Lipkin P, Hoeft KS, Cheng J, Zhan L. Can silver diamine fluoride reduce invasive treatments with general anesthesia? J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2024 Sep; 48(5):174-182.  View on PubMed
  15. Santoyo-Olsson J, Covinsky KE, Chesla CA, Lorig K, Gallagher-Thompson D, Cheng J, Luzanilla M, Macias Romo E, Aguayo Ramirez G, Karliner L, Yank V. Predictors of Psychological Distress Among Rural Family/Friend Caregivers of People Living With Dementia in the United States: Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2024 02 01; 79(2).  View on PubMed
  16. Gadgil MD, Cheng J, Herrington DM, Kandula NR, Kanaya AM. Adipose tissue-derived metabolite risk scores and risk for type 2 diabetes in South Asians. Int J Obes (Lond). 2024 May; 48(5):668-673.  View on PubMed
  17. Garber AK, Cheng J, Accurso EC, Buckelew SM, Downey AE, Le Grange D, Gorrell S, Kapphahn CJ, Kreiter A, Moscicki AB, Golden NH. Short-term outcomes of the study of refeeding to optimize inpatient gains for patients with atypical anorexia nervosa. Int J Eat Disord. 2024 Apr; 57(4):859-868.  View on PubMed
  18. Chaffee BW, Cheng J, Couch ET, Halpern-Felsher B. Engagement, Mental Health, and Substance Use Under In-Person or Remote School Instruction During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Sch Health. 2024 06; 94(6):501-508.  View on PubMed
  19. Liu J, Nabavizadeh P, Rao P, Derakhshandeh R, Han DD, Guo R, Murphy MB, Cheng J, Schick SF, Springer ML. Impairment of Endothelial Function by Aerosol From Marijuana Leaf Vaporizers. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 12 05; 12(23):e032969.  View on PubMed
  20. Golden NH, Kapphahn CJ, Cheng J, Kreiter A, Downey AE, Accurso EC, Machen VI, Adams SH, Buckelew SM, Moscicki AB, Le Grange D, Garber AK. Course and outcome in individuals with atypical anorexia nervosa: Findings from the Study of Refeeding to Optimize iNpatient Gains (StRONG). Int J Eat Disord. 2024 Apr; 57(4):799-808.  View on PubMed

Go to UCSF Profiles, powered by CTSI