Research Summary

I am Professor in Residence and a practicing clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSF. My research interest centers on developing and testing culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions for reducing cancer health disparities, particularly in tobacco control targeting vulnerable populations. I am a bilingual and bicultural psychologist originally from Hong Kong, China, my research and clinical specialties are in the areas of behavioral medicine and health psychology, and in individual and group cognitive behavioral treatment in diverse populations, including Asian American immigrants. I have extensive training and research experience in questionnaire design, qualitative methods, intervention development, clinical research methodology, and treatment outcome evaluation.

My current research funded by NIH and the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), which targets tobacco use among Asian Americans. In addition to leading a current NIDA R01 study testing a family-focused intervention targeting Asian American smokers, I have led or co-led more than 14 smoking cessation clinical trials combining the use of psychological and pharmacological treatments, including interactive multi-media intervention systems targeting smokers with comorbid disorders such as depressive disorders in outpatient psychiatric settings, smokers with substance use disorders in drug treatment settings, pregnant smokers in prenatal care settings, and Asian American smokers in the community and primary care settings. I have extensive experience in developing and testing interactive computerized tailored intervention programs such as the “Pathways-to-Change Expert System” and “Video Doctor” in both clinical and community settings. In summary, I have expertise in designing and implementing culturally and linguistically intervention program targeting multiple Asian American communities on tobacco use reduction and other health related areas. In addition, I have extensive experience in conducting community-based participatory research (CBPR).

Research Funding

  • August 1, 2023 - June 30, 2028 - Collaborative Approach for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Research and Education (CARE) 2.0 , Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI) . Sponsor: NIH/NIA, Sponsor Award ID: R01AG083926
  • July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027 - Ending Tobacco Use and Smoke Exposures among Asian Americans , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP): Community Partnered Participatory Research Award, Sponsor Award ID: T34CF8144
  • July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025 - Connect Cancer Patients to Tobacco Cessation Care by Automated Interactive Outreach , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), Sponsor Award ID: T32IP4743
  • July 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024 - Getting INFORMED and Living Well: A Demonstration Project to Facilitate Pandemic Recovery among Asian Americans in California , . Sponsor: California Department of Public Health - The California Collaborative for Public Health Research (CPR3), Sponsor Award ID: Contract #22-10528
  • September 30, 1991 - June 30, 2024 - Substance Use Disorders Treatment/Services Research Training Program , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: T32DA007250
  • December 1, 2020 - May 31, 2024 - Getting Asian Americans INFORMED to Facilitate COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH/NIDA, Sponsor Award ID: 3R01DA036749-05S1; 3R01DA036749-05S2
  • July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2023 - Interactive Mobile Doctor (iMD) to Promote Tobacco Cessation among Cancer Patients , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, Sponsor Award ID: T31IP1716
  • November 21, 2021 - March 31, 2023 - Evaluating Methods to Remove Thirdhand Smoke from Homes , Principal Investigator (11/21/2022 - 3/31/2023); Co-Investigator (4/1/2019 - 11/20/2022) . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), Sponsor Award ID: T29IP0284CA
  • September 1, 2014 - November 30, 2021 - A Family-Focused Intervention for Asian American Male Smokers , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DA036749
  • August 31, 2018 - August 30, 2020 - HDFCCC Tobacco Treatment Program , Project Leader . Sponsor: NIH/ National Cancer Institute, Sponsor Award ID: 3P30CA082103-19S2
  • July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2020 - Empower Korean Families to End Tobacco Use & Smoke Exposure , Principal Invesigator . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), Sponsor Award ID: 26IP-0037
  • July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2018 - Interactive Mobile Doctor (iMD) for Asian smokers , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Tobacco Related Disease Research Program, Sponsor Award ID: 24AT-1301
  • August 1, 2013 - July 31, 2017 - A Family-Based Approach to Reduce Smoking in Vietnamese Men , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, Sponsor Award ID: 22RT-0089H
  • March 1, 2011 - February 28, 2014 - A family intervention to reduce smoking among Chinese and Vietnamese men , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21DA030569
  • July 1, 2010 - December 31, 2013 - The Chinese Community Internet Stop Smoking Project , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, Sponsor Award ID: 19BT-0039
  • July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2013 - A Family Intervention to Reduce Smoking in Vietnamese Men , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, Sponsor Award ID: 19XT-0083H
  • July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2009 - A Stage-Matched Scheduled Smoking Intervention for Chinese , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, Sponsor Award ID: 14RT-0160
  • January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2007 - Family Assisted and Expert System Interventions for Chinese Smokers , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: American Cancer Society, Sponsor Award ID: TURSG-03-102-01-PBP
  • August 16, 2000 - July 31, 2005 - TREATING CHINESE SMOKERS WITH INTERACTIVE EXPERT SYSTEMS , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: K23DA000468
  • September 1, 1999 - March 31, 2003 - Smoking and Depression in Chinese vs. non-Chinese , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, Sponsor Award ID: 8KT-0012

Education

State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, B.A., 1990, Psychology
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, M.A., 1993, Clinical Psychology
University Univ. of Mississippi/Veterans Affairs Med. Center, Jackson, MS, Residency, 1994-95, Clinical Psychology
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, Ph.D., 1995, Clinical Psychology
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Post-doc, 1995-97, Cancer Prevention
University of California San Francisco, CA, Post-doc, 1997-99, Substance Abuse
University of California San Francisco, CA, Certificate, 2001-02, Clinical Research

Honors & Awards

  • 1996
    University Cancer Foundation Fellowship Award in Cancer Prevention Research, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
  • 1999
    New Investigator Award -Tobacco Related Disease Research Program, University of California
  • 2000
    Mentored Patient Oriented Research Career Development Award - National Institute on Drug Abuse
  • 2005
    Nominated for the First Annual Award for Outstanding Faculty Mentorship to Postdoctoral Scholars, Postdoctoral Scholars Association, University of California San Francisco

Selected Publications

  1. Grill JD, Tsoh JY, Nam B, Tzuang M, Huang D, Fara-On G, Johnson CB, Hoffmann TJ, Meyer OL, Mukherjea A, Nishita C, Gallagher-Thompson D, Hinton L, Tofaeono V, Balaz P, Tavana JP, Tiet QQ, Javier JR, Vuong Q, Park VT. Increasing representation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in aging, dementia, and caregiving research: An update from the CARE registry. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Apr; 21(4):e70144.  View on PubMed
  2. Bacong AM, Maglalang DD, Tsoh JY, Saw A. Perceived discrimination and coping with substance use among Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC Public Health. 2025 Feb 20; 25(1):698.  View on PubMed
  3. Van Ta Park, Janice Y. Tsoh, Oanh L. Meyer, Bora Nam, Marian Tzuang, Quyen Vuong, Ladson Hinton, Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, Alka M. Kanaya, Daren Huang, Gabriel Fara-On, Joshua D Grill. Enhancing participation in research for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Populations: An update on the CARE Registry. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2024 Dec 1; 20(Suppl 4):e091617.  View on PubMed
  4. Marian Tzuang, Joshua D Grill, Janice Y. Tsoh, Daren Huang, Bora Nam, Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, Ladson Hinton, Oanh L. Meyer, Van Ta Park. User evaluation of registry-supported recruitment: The Collaborative Approach for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Research and Education (CARE). Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2024 Dec 1; 20(Suppl 4):e091838.  View on PubMed
  5. Choi J, Park V, Jung A, Tsoh J. Attitude toward physical activity among Asian American family caregivers of persons living with dementia. Geriatr Nurs. 2025 Mar-Apr; 62(Pt B):276-282.  View on PubMed
  6. Gu D, Ha P, Kaye JT, Fiore MC, Tsoh JY. Cigarette smoking status and COVID-19 hospitalization in the context of cannabis use: An electronic health record cohort study in northern California. Addict Behav Rep. 2024 Dec; 20:100565.  View on PubMed
  7. Chu JN, Tsoh JY, Shariff-Marco S, Allen L, Oh D, Kuo MC, Wong C, Bui H, Chen J, Truong A, Wang K, Hwang A, Li FM, Ma C, Gomez SL, Nguyen TT. Patient COUNTS: A pilot navigation program for Asian American cancer patients. Asian Am J Psychol. 2024 Sep; 15(3):205-212.  View on PubMed
  8. Tsoh JY, Takubo Y, Fukui E, Suzuki A, Iwai M, Saito H, Tsujino N, Uchino T, Katagiri N, Nemoto T. Exploring early discontinuation of mental health outpatient treatment: language, demographics and clinical characteristics among migrant populations in Japan. BMJ Ment Health. 2024 Jul 03; 27(1).  View on PubMed
  9. Dougan MM, Tzuang M, Nam B, Meyer OL, Tsoh JY, Park VMT. Discrimination Experiences among Asian American and Pacific Islander Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Association with Mental Health Outcomes: Updated Findings from the COMPASS Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Jun 19; 21(6).  View on PubMed
  10. Nguyen A, Yu F, Park LG, Fukuoka Y, Wong C, Gildengorin G, Nguyen TT, Tsoh JY, Jih J. An App-Based Physical Activity Intervention in Community-Dwelling Chinese-, Tagalog-, and Vietnamese-Speaking Americans: Single-Arm Intervention Study. JMIR Form Res. 2024 Jun 10; 8:e56373.  View on PubMed
  11. Constance Wu, Janice Y. Tsoh, Rena Pasick, Claudia Guerra, Karla Kerlikowske, Niharika Dixit. Lessons learned from a genetic counseling randomized clinical trial: Implications for recruiting individuals identifying as Asians in research. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2024 Jun 1; 42(16_suppl):1576-1576.  View on PubMed
  12. Vijayaraghavan M, Elser H, Delucchi K, Tsoh JY, Lynch K, Weiser SD, Riley ED. Distinct patterns of cigarette smoking intensity and other substance use among women who experience housing instability. Addict Behav. 2024 09; 156:108066.  View on PubMed
  13. Sabado-Liwag MD, Kwan PP, Okihiro M, Sy A, Tsoh JY, Juarez R, Choi J, Martorell C, McElfish PA. Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Visibility and Data Equity: Insights From NIH RADx-UP. Am J Public Health. 2024 05; 114(S5):S354-S359.  View on PubMed
  14. Potter MB, Tsoh JY, Lugtu K, Parra J, Bowyer V, Hessler D. Smoking Cessation Support in the Context of Other Social and Behavioral Needs in Community Health Centers. J Am Board Fam Med. 2024 Mar 11; 37(1):84-94.  View on PubMed
  15. Meyer OL, Nguyen K, Nam B, Tsoh JY, Hinton L, Gallagher-Thompson D, Grill J, Vuong Q, Park VT. Vietnamese American Perspectives on Engagement in an Aging-Focused Research Registry. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2024; 53(2):83-90.  View on PubMed
  16. Wang K, Chu JN, Oh DL, Shariff-Marco S, Allen L, Kuo MC, Wong C, Bui H, Chen J, Li FM, Ma C, Truong A, Gomez SL, Nguyen TT, Tsoh JY. Correlates of supportive care needs among Asian Americans with colorectal, liver, or lung cancer from a web-based patient navigation portal intervention: The Patient COUNTS study. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2024 02; 7(2):e1971.  View on PubMed
  17. Van Ta Park, Thomas J. Hoffmann, Janice Y. Tsoh, Oanh L. Meyer, Bora Nam, Marian Tzuang, Alka Kanaya, Ladson Hinton, Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, Quyen Vuong, David Kim, Joshua D Grill. Understanding Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander participants' attitudes toward research: CARE research recruitment registry. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2023 Dec 25; 19(S23).  View on PubMed
  18. Choi J, Ta Park V, Nguyen E, Jung A, Tsoh J. Understanding the caregiving experiences of Asian Indian, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese American family care partners of persons living with dementia. Aging Ment Health. 2024 Mar-Apr; 28(3):473-481.  View on PubMed
  19. Van Ta Park, Joshua D. Grill, Niloufar Ameli, Sarit Helman, Marian Tzuang, Janice Y. Tsoh, Oanh L. Meyer, Bora Nam, Ladson Hinton, Alka Kanaya, Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, Quyen Vuong, Joon Bang, Hye-Won Shin, Stuart Gansky. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders’ preferences in recruitment strategies/messaging for participation in a research recruitment registry for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, aging, and caregiving research: A discrete choice experiment survey. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2023 Jun 16; 19(S8).  View on PubMed
  20. Piasecki TM, Smith SS, Baker TB, Slutske WS, Adsit RT, Bolt DM, Conner KL, Bernstein SL, Eng OD, Lazuk D, Gonzalez A, Jorenby DE, D'Angelo H, Kirsch JA, Williams BS, Nolan MB, Hayes-Birchler T, Kent S, Kim H, Lubanski S, Yu M, Suk Y, Cai Y, Kashyap N, Mathew JP, McMahan G, Rolland B, Tindle HA, Warren GW, An LC, Boyd AD, Brunzell DH, Carrillo V, Chen LS, Davis JM, Deshmukh VG, Dilip D, Ellerbeck EF, Goldstein AO, Iturrate E, Jose T, Khanna N, King A, Klass E, Mermelstein RJ, Tong E, Tsoh JY, Wilson KM, Theobald WE, Fiore MC. Smoking Status, Nicotine Medication, Vaccination, and COVID-19 Hospital Outcomes: Findings from the COVID EHR Cohort at the University of Wisconsin (CEC-UW) Study. Nicotine Tob Res. 2023 05 22; 25(6):1184-1193.  View on PubMed

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