Prof. Cheung Yin Ting

CHEUNG Yin Ting 張彥婷

B.Sc. (Pharm.) (Hons.), Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Pharmacy
Faculty of Medicine
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 3943 6833
Fax:(852) 2603 5295
Email: yinting.cheung@cuhk.edu.hk

Personal Details

Cheung Yin Ting received her B.Sc. (Pharm.) (Hons.) from the National University of Singapore (NUS). She practiced at the Singapore General Hospital before returning to NUS for her postgraduate training. During her Ph.D. candidature, she had the privilege of pioneering the cognitive and psychosocial research program in Asian breast cancer patients. She joined the Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, USA) as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in 2014. Her work with the Cognitive Neuroscience Team at St. Jude involved characterizing the pharmacological, biological and genetic determinants of brain function and other treatment-related complications in survivors of pediatric cancer.

She had previous teaching appointments with Rhodes College (Memphis, USA) as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, and the School of Nursing, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Singapore) as an Adjunct Associate Lecturer in Pharmacology.

Yin Ting joined the School of Pharmacy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in August 2017. She hopes that her collaborative research with students, clinicians and scientists can help to improve health outcomes in survivors of cancer and other chronic diseases.

**Seeking motivated MPhil/PhD candidates who wish to pursue a higher degree in cancer survivorship-related research. Learning outcomes include developing integrated skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, pharmacy practice and social sciences. Candidates will have the opportunity to initiate patient-centered outcomes or/and interventional research in a collaborative environment. Please contact Dr Cheung (yinting.cheung@cuhk.edu.hk) for more information. 

Research Interests

Yin Ting’s research interest is in supportive care and survivorship in adult and pediatric oncology.

Major advances in health care delivery have dramatically improved survival rates for children and adults diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Unfortunately, survivorship often comes at a cost of developing a myriad of treatment-related complications that can have a negative impact on their functional outcomes and health-related quality of life.

Yin Ting’s work adopts a combination of epidemiological, translational and qualitative research approaches to characterise these drug-induced toxicities, particularly in adverse outcomes related to brain function, such as neurocognitive impairment, behavioral problems and psychological distress. Her collaborative work involves evaluating how underlying genetic predispositions, as well as physiological biomarkers, biobehavioral factors and chemotherapy exposures during the active treatment phase, are predictive of long-term complications in survivors of cancer.

The eventual goal of this work is to develop an evidence-based model that will facilitate a “personalized survivorship care plan” for each cancer survivor, as well as to apply a similar approach to improve health outcomes in other chronic conditions.

Research collaborations:

• St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, USA)
• Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center (Guangzhou, China)
• Childhood Cancer Survivors’ Study (CCSS) (Funded by the National Institute of Cancer, USA)
• Chinese Children’s Cancer Group (CCCG)
• Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)

Research grants:

• Neuroimaging, Cognitive and Life Functioning Outcomes in Patients with Hemophilia (Ref No: 14602620). Sponsored by Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC): General Research Fund (GRF) during the period 01-01-2021 to 30-06-2022 for the sum of HKD 424,400
  Role: Principal Investigator

• Health and Socio-environmental Determinants of Functional Outcomes in Survivors of Pediatric/Young Adult Bone and Soft-Tissue Sarcoma (Ref No: 14601919). Sponsored by Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC): General Research Fund (GRF) during the period 01-01-2020 to 31-12-2021 for the sum of HKD 634,508
  Role: Principal Investigator

• A Biobehavioral Model to Understanding Cognitive and Psychosocial Outcomes in Young Survivors of Childhood Leukemia (ref no: 24614818) Sponsored by Research Grant Council (Early Career Scheme) during the period 01-01-2019 to 30-6-2021 for the sum of HKD 636,835
  Role: Principal Investigator

• Personalized Risk-based Care and Education for Early Survivors of Childhood Cancer in Hong Kong (ref: 03170047)
  Sponsored by Health and Medical Research Fund (Research Fellowship) during the period 01-02-2019 to 31-07-2021 for the sum of HKD 813,070
  Role: Principal Investigator

• Promoting Safe and Appropriate Use of TCM in Survivors of Childhood Cancer (促進兒童癌症康復者安全有效使用中醫藥的知識) (19B1‐2/017A_R1). Sponsored by Chinese Medicine Development Fund (中醫藥發展基金) during the period 01-01-2021 to 31-12-2021 for the sum of HKD 65,200
  Role: Principal Investigator

• “Eyes on Haemo” – A Self-Management Multi-modal Care Program （<凝‧視血友>自我管理計劃 ） (S/N 2020-0106). Sponsored by the Jockey Club Charities Trust (Hong Kong Hemophilia Society) during the period 01-10-2020 to 30-09-2023 for the sum of HKD 899,750 (of HKD 2,690,000)
  Role: Site Principal Investigator

• Iron Deficiency and its Impact on Neurocognitive Function in Hong Kong Adolescents (Ref: 04180037). Sponsored by Health and Medical Research Fund during the period 01-08-2020 to 31-12-2021 for the sum of HKD 594,820
  Role: Co-investigator (PI: Prof Chi-Kong Li, CUHK Paediatrics)

• Asthma Control in Paediatric Patients using Mannitol Challenge Test – Impact of Body Mass Index (Ref: 04180037).
  Sponsored by Health and Medical Research Fund (Research Fellowship) during the period 15-02-2020 to 14-02-2022 for the sum of HKD 833,180
  Role: Co-investigator (PI: Prof Sharon Leung, CUHK Pharmacy)

Teaching grant:

• Prescribing in Practice for Medical and Pharmacy Undergraduates: Teaching Safe Prescribing of Key and High-risk Drugs through Case-based Learning via an E-Learning Platform. Sponsored by the CUHK Courseware Development Grant Scheme 2018-2019 during the period of 24-09-2018 to 31-05-2019.
  Role: Project team member (PI: Prof Elaine Chow, CUHK Medicine and Therapeutics)

Teaching

Bachelor of Pharmacy Programme

• PHAR 1000 Introduction to Pharmacy
• PHAR 2710 Pharmaceutical Research Methods
• PHAR 4401 Industrial Pharmacy Clerkship: Multi-national Company
• PHAR 4402 Industrial Pharmacy Clerkship: Local Manufacturer
• PHAR 4911 (Research Project I) and PHAR4912 (Research Project II)
• MEDF 1021 Faculty Package: Public Health & Healthcare Ethics
• MEDF 1031 Faculty Package: Communication Skills

Master of Clinical Pharmacy

• PHAR 5852 Pharmacovigilance and Public Health for Pharmacists
• PHAR 5824 (Graduation Project I)
• PHAR 5924 (Graduation Project II)

Representative Publications

1. Cheung YT, Liu W, Brinkman TM, Srivastava D, Leisenring WM, Howell RM, et al. Prescription Psychoactive Medication Use in Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer and Association with Adult Functional Outcomes. JNCI Cancer Spectrum 2020. Epub: pkaa057, https://doi.org/10.1093/jncics/pkaa057
2. Qian W, Lam TTN, Lam HHW, Li CK, Cheung YT. Telehealth Interventions for Improving Self-Management in Patients With Hemophilia: Scoping Review of Clinical Studies. J Med Internet Res. 2019 Jul 10;21(7):e12340.
3. Yan C, Cheung RSY, Wong CL, Cheng HY, Liu F, Huang H, Ewig CLY, Li CK, Zhang H*, Cheung YT*. Stress and Perception of Procedural Pain Management in Chinese Parents of Children With Cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020 Jul 5;S0885-3924(20)30571-6. *co-corresponding authors
4. Peng L, Yam PYP, Yang LS, Sato S, Li CK, Cheung YT. Neurocognitive Outcomes in Asian Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Scoping Review. Cancer Metastasis Review. Jan 2020, doi: 10.1007/s10555-020-09857-y.
5. Sapkota Y, Cheung YT, Moon W, Shelton K, Wilson CL, Wang Z, Mulrooney DA, Zhang J, Armstrong GT, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Krull KR, Yasui Y. Whole-genome Sequencing of Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated with Cranial Radiation Therapy Identifies 5p15.33 locus for Stroke: A Report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort study. Clinical Cancer Research. 2019 Aug 28. pii: clincanres.1231.2019.
6. Cheung YT, Eskind A, Inaba H, Hudson MM, Pui CH, Krull KR, Wolf J. Association of Bacteremic Sepsis With Long-term Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Pediatric Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. JAMA Pediatrics. 2018 Sep 24. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.2500.
7. Cheung YT, Khan RB, Liu W, Brinkman TM, Edelmann MN, Reddick WE, Pei D, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Srivastava D, Cheng C, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Pui CH, Krull KR. Association of Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Central Nervous System Injury With Neurocognitive and Brain Imaging Outcomes in Children Receiving Chemotherapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. JAMA Oncology 2018 Jul 12;4(7):e180089.
8. Cheung YT, Brinkman TM, Li CH, Mzayek Y, Srivastava D, Ness KK, Patel SK, Howell RM, Oeffinger KC, Robison LL, Armstrong GT, Krull KR. Chronic Health Conditions and Neurocognitive Function in Aging Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Journal of National Cancer Institute. 2017. 2018;110(4):411-419.
9. Cheung YT*, Sabin ND*, Reddick WE, Bhojwani D, Liu W, Brinkman TM, Glass JO, Srivastava D, Pui CH, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Krull KR. Leukoencephalopathy and Long-term Neurobehavioural, Neurocognitive, and Brain Imaging Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Treated with Chemotherapy: A Longitudinal Analysis. The Lancet Haematology 2016;3(10):e456-e466 *co-first authors
10. Krull KR, Cheung YT, Liu W, Fellah S, Reddick WE, Brinkman TM, Kimberg C, Ogg R, Srivastava D, Pui CH, Robison LL, Hudson MM. Chemotherapy Pharmacodynamics, Neuroimaging and Neurocognitive Outcomes in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2016;34(22):2644-53
11. Cheung YT, Krull KR. Neurocognitive Outcomes in Long-term Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated on Contemporary Treatment Protocols: A Systematic Review. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 2015;53:108-120
12. Cheung YT, Edelmann MN, Mulrooney DA, Green DM, Chemaitilly W, John N, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Krull KR. Uric Acid and Neurocognitive Function in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated with Chemotherapy only. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 2016;25(8):1259-67

More Publications

Awards

Media Coverage

“Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pediatric Oncology (中醫藥治兒童癌症)” Skypost. https://skypost.ulifestyle.com.hk/column/article/2759998. 29 September 2020.

MedicalResearch.com. Medical Research Studies with Interviews and News. “Leukoencephalopathy As Marker of Cognitive Impairment After Chemotherapy For Childhood ALL” http://medicalresearch.com/author-interviews/leukoencephalopathy-as-marker-of-cognitive-impairment-after-chemotherapy-for-childhood-all/28527/. 3 October 2016.

Media Release. St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Chemo drug makes multitasking a challenge for some leukemia survivors” https://www.stjude.org/research/news-publications/research-highlights/2016-research-highlights/chemo-drug-makes-multitasking-a-challenge-for-some-leukemia-survivors.html. 6 June 2016.

Service and consultancy with:

• Hong Kong Hemophilia Society (HKHS)
• Little Life Warrior Society (LLWS)
• Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF)