Debbie M. Cheng, ScD

Professor, Boston University School of Public Health

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.

Publications

  • Published 11/21/2025

    Rao AV, Ghare SS, Gautam V, Hoffman KL, Petrosino J, So-Armah K, Samet JH, Patts GJ, Cheng DM, Blokhina E, Krupitsky EM, Lioznov D, Zvartau E, McClain CJ, Tindle H, Freiberg MS, Barve SS. Sex differences in beneficial and pathogenic bacteria in People With HIV (PWH) with a history of heavy alcohol drinking. Front Microbiol. 2025; 16:1632949. PMID: 41356481.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 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 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 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 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

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
  • Northwestern University, BS