Debbie Cheng
Profiles

Debbie M. Cheng, ScD

Professor, Biostatistics - Boston University School of Public Health

617-358-2525
dmcheng@bu.edu
Crosstown Center - 319
View Full Profile at BUMC

Biography

Debbie M. Cheng is a Professor of Biostatistics and Assistant Dean of Data Science at the Boston University School of Public Health, where she is also the founding Executive Director of the Center for Health Data Science. She serves as Director of Strategy and Partnerships for Boston University’s university-wide AI Developmental Accelerator (AIDA). She is also Co-Director of the Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). Her research focuses on applied statistics and clinical trial design and analysis, with particular emphasis on the intersection of substance use and HIV. She leads interdisciplinary initiatives that integrate data science with public health and clinical research to advance evidence-based solutions.

Other Positions

  • Assistant Dean of Data Science - Boston University School of Public Health
  • Executive Director, Center for Health Data Science - Boston University School of Public Health
  • Faculty, Medicine - Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Education

  • Harvard University, ScD Field of Study: Biostatistics
  • Northwestern University, BS Field of Study: Industrial Engineering

Websites

Publications

  • Published on 6/3/2026

    Truong V, Kekibiina A, Muyindike WR, Gnatienko N, Tsui JI, Emenyonu NI, Cheng DM, Hahn JA, Allison O, Bullard MJ, Lunze K, Samet JH. Gabapentin to achieve HIV viral load suppression in people with risky drinking in Mbarara, Uganda: study protocol for a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (GRAIL). Trials. 2026 Jun 03. PMID: 42237416.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 5/28/2026

    Rossi SL, Cheng DM, Sereda Y, Truong V, Carroll JJ, Kiriazova T, Lodi S, Michals A, Raj A, Krupitsky E, Lioznov D, Samet JH, Lunze K. COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and substance use behaviors among people with HIV - a mixed method analysis. PLoS One. 2026; 21(5):e0349567. PMID: 42207818.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 1/18/2026

    Rich ZC, Tindle HA, Cheng DM, Stein MD, Gnatienko N, Bendiks S, Forman L, Patts GJ, Krupitsky E, Freiberg MS, Samet JH. Assessing the impact of nicotinic partial agonists compared to NRT on opioid and cigarette use: A secondary analysis investigating treatment outcomes for co-occurring nicotine and opioid use. J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2026 May; 184:209904. PMID: 41558587.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 10/15/2025

    Truong V, Kekibiina A, Muyindike W, Gnatienko N, Tsui JI, Emenyonu NI, Cheng DM, Hahn J, Allison O, Bullard MJ, Lunze K, Samet JH. Gabapentin to achieve HIV viral load suppression in people with risky drinking in Mbarara, Uganda: study protocol for a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (GRAIL). Res Sq. 2025 Oct 15. PMID: 41282191.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 10/11/2025

    El-Bassel N, Samet JH, Cheng DM, Freisthler B, John Winhusen T, Walsh SL. Response to the Editor: Re: registration and multiple outcome testing in the HEALing Communities Study by Dennis M. Gorman and Ben G. Fitzpatrick. Int J Drug Policy. 2025 Nov; 145:105029. PMID: 41077014.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 7/9/2025

    Brown JL, Larochelle MR, Fanucchi LC, Calvert DC, Campbell ANC, Chandler RK, Feaster DJ, Glasgow LM, Gibson EB, Holloway J, Lofwall MR, Mack A, Mack N, Nunes EV, Talbert JC, Tan S, Vandergrift N, Villani J, Asman K, Babakhanlou-Chase H, Bagley SM, Battaglia TA, Blevins D, Bridden C, Cheng DM, Christopher M, Cogan LW, Cunningham CO, Eggleston B, Fareed N, Fernandez S, Freedman DA, Freiermuth CE, Freisthler B, Gilbert L, Hammerslag L, Harris D, Hunt T, Hussain S, Huynh P, Jackson RD, Kauffman EB, Knott C, Knudsen HK, Lefebvre RC, Levin FR, Massatti R, McAlearney AS, Morgan JR, Lopez RM, Lounsbury DW, Newman L, Nickels K, Oga EA, Oller DA, Parran TV, Quinn M, Ramsey KS, Rapkin BD, Salsberry P, Stein M, Taylor JL, Teater J, Walters ST, Zarkin GA, El-Bassel N, Winhusen TJ, Samet JH, Walsh SL. Effects of the Communities That HEAL intervention on initiation, retention, and linkage to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD): A cluster randomized wait-list controlled trial. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2025 Sep 01; 274:112785. PMID: 40684522.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 6/1/2025

    Magane KM, Dukes KA, Fielman S, Palfai TP, Regan D, Cheng DM, Lee H, Kraemer KL, Bullard MJ, Chen CA, Samet JH. Oral vs Extended-Release Injectable Naltrexone for Hospitalized Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2025 Jun 01; 185(6):635-645. PMID: 40257810.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 2/11/2025

    Fuster D, So-Armah K, Cheng DM, Blokhina E, Patts G, Lioznov D, Gnatienko N, Long MT, Freiberg MS, Tindle H, Samet JH. Is There an Association Between Cigarette Smoking and Advanced Liver Fibrosis in Smokers with HIV, Heavy Drinking and High Prevalence of HCV? J Clin Med. 2025 Feb 11; 14(4). PMID: 40004700.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 10/10/2024

    Freeman PR, Walley AY, Winhusen TJ, Oga EA, Villani J, Hunt T, Chandler RK, Oyler DR, Reilly B, Gelberg K, Douglas C, Lyons MS, Holloway J, Vandergrift NA, Adams JW, Asman K, Baker TJ, Brancato CJ, Cheng DM, Childerhose JE, David JL, Feaster DJ, Gilbert L, Glasgow LM, Goddard-Eckrich DA, Knott C, Knudsen HK, Lofwall MR, Marks KR, McMullan JT, Oser CB, Roberts MF, Shoben AB, Stein MD, Walters ST, Watson J, Zarkin GA, Jackson RD, Samet JH, Walsh SL, Bassel NE. Effect of the Communities That HEAL Intervention on Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution: A Cluster-Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Trial. Am J Public Health. 2025 Jan; 115(1):83-94. PMID: 39388670.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 9/14/2024

    Cheng DM, Hogan JW. The Sense and Sensibility of Sensitivity Analyses. N Engl J Med. 2024 Sep 19; 391(11):972-974. PMID: 39282939.

     Read At: PubMed

View 223 more publications:View Full Profile at BUMC

News & In the Media

View all profiles