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Cho Y. Lam, Ph.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Science, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

Dr. Cho Lam is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Science. He received a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, and completed a psychology residency at the University of Mississippi Medical School in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Lam’s research focuses on using ecological momentary technologies to examine nicotine addiction and smoking cessation. He is the principal investigator of a Mentored Research Scholar Grant funded by the American Cancer Society to apply ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to study the mechanism underlying smoking cessation and relapse. Specifically, he seeks to develop algorithms that will summarize smokers’ momentary experiences to predict smoking lapse/relapse. Dr. Lam is also a principal investigator of a R03 research grant funded by the National Cancer Institute to apply EMA to examine the relationship between pain and smoking in cancer patients.

Research Interests

Nicotine addiction

Tobacco use and cessation

Ecological momentary assessment and intervention

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2002 Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, PHD, Clinical psychology
1995 California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA, MA, Psychology
1989 University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, BA, Psychology

Postgraduate Training

1/2002-9/2006 Research Fellowship, Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Dr. Paul M. Cinciripini

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Lam CY, Robinson JD, Versace F, Minnix JA, Cui Y, Carter BL, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Affective reactivity during smoking cessation of never-quitters compared with that of abstainers, relapsers, and continuing smokers. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 20(2):139-150, 4/2012. PMID: 22039752.
2. Robinson JD, Lam CY, Carter BL, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Negative reinforcement smoking outcome expectancies are associated with affective response to acute nicotine administration and abstinence. Drug Alcohol Depend 120(1-3):196-201, 1/2012. e-Pub 8/2011. PMCID: PMC3242897.
3. Versace F, Lam CY, Engelmann JM, Robinson JD, Minnix JA, Brown VL, Cinciripini PM. Beyond cue reactivity: blunted brain responses to pleasant stimuli predict long-term smoking abstinence. Addict Biol. e-Pub 10/2011. PMCID: PMC3252422.
4. Robinson JD, Lam CY, Carter BL, Minnix JA, Cui Y, Versace F, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. A multimodal approach to assessing the impact of nicotine dependence, nicotine abstinence, and craving on negative affect in smokers. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 19(1):40-52, 2/2011. PMID: 21341922.
5. Minnix JA, Robinson JD, Lam CY, Carter BL, Foreman JE, Vandenbergh DJ, Tomlinson GE, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. The serotonin transporter gene and startle response during nicotine deprivation. Biol Psychol 86(1):1-8, 1/2011. e-Pub 10/2010. PMID: 20888887.
6. Blalock JA, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Karam-Hage M, Gritz ER, Robinson JA, Cinciripini PM. The effect of mood, anxiety and alcohol use disorders on smoking cessation in cancer patients. J Cogn Psychot 25(1):82-96, 2011.
7. Versace F, Robinson JD, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Brown VL, Carter BL, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Cigarette cues capture smokers' attention: evidence from event-related potentials. Psychophysiology 47(3):435-441, 5/2010. e-Pub 1/2010. PMID: 20070579.
8. Carter BL, Paris MM, Lam CY, Robinson JD, Traylor AC, Waters AJ, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Real-time craving differences between black and white smokers. Am J Addict 19(2):136-40, Mar-Apr, 3/2010. PMID: 20163385.
9. Zevallos JP, Mallen MJ, Lam CY, Karam-Hage M, Blalock J, Wetter DW, Garden AS, Sturgis EM, Cinciripini PM. Complications of radiotherapy in laryngopharyngeal cancer: Effects of a prospective smoking cessation program. Cancer 115(19):4636-44, 10/2009. PMID: 19569250.
10. Carter BL, Lam CY, Robinson JD, Paris MM, Waters AJ, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Generalized craving, self-report of arousal, and cue reactivity after brief abstinence. Nicotine Tob Res 11(7):823-6, 7/2009. e-Pub 5/2009. PMCID: PMC2699928.
11. Lam CY, Robinson JD, Carter BL, Wetter DW, Minnix JA, Cinciripini PM. Nicotine differentially inhibits the acoustic startle reflex in African American and Caucasian American smokers. Addict Behav 33(12):1521-8, 12/2008. e-Pub 7/2008. PMCID: PMC2612003.
12. Carter BL, Lam CY, Robinson JD, Paris MM, Waters AJ, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Real-time craving and mood assessments before and after smoking. Nicotine Tob Res 10(7):1165-9, 7/2008. PMID: 18629726.
13. Robinson JD, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Wetter DW, Tomlinson GE, Minna JD, Chen TT, Cinciripini PM. The DRD2 TaqI-B polymorphism and its relationship to smoking abstinence and withdrawal symptoms. Pharmacogenomics J 7(4):266-274, 8/2007. e-Pub 12/2006. PMID: 17189962.
14. Lam CY, Minnix JA, Robinson JD, Cinciripini PM. A brief review of pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 4(6):583-589, 7/2006. PMID: 16813725.
15. Carter BL, Robinson JD, Lam CY, Wetter DW, Tsan JY, Day SX, Cinciripini PM. A psychometric evaluation of cigarette stimuli used in a cue reactivity study. Nicotine Tob Res 8(3):361-369, 6/2006. PMID: 16801294.
16. Lam CY, Pepper CM, Ryabchenko KA. Case identification of mood disorders in Asian American and Caucasian American college students. Psychiatr Q 75(4):361-373, 2004. PMID: 15563053.
17. Novy DM, Lam CY, Gritz ER, Hernandez M, Koyyalagunta D. Distinguishing features of cancer patients who smoke: Pain, symptom burden, and risk for opioid misuse. Pain. Submitted.
18. Robinson JD, Versace F, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Englemann JM, Cui Y, Karam-Hage M, Shete SS, Tomlinson GE, Chen TTL, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Genes modulating dopamine release and dopamine gene expression are associated with reward system deficits in smokers. Molecular Psychiatry. Submitted.
19. Lam CY, Businelle MS, Cofta-Woerpel L, McClure JB, Cinciripini PM, Wetter Dw. Positive smoking outcome expectancies mediate the relationship between alcohol consumption and smoking urge. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Submitted.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Establishing a comprehensive cancer prevention and support program within Chinese American community in Houston and Austin Areas of Texas
Funding Source: Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
Role: Consultant
Principal Investigator: Helen Sun
Duration: 3/1/2012 - 2/28/2015
 
Title: Error Sensitivity as a Predictor of Nicotine Withdrawal and Smoking Cessation
Funding Source: NIH/NIDA
Role: Collaborator
Principal Investigator: Paul Cinciripini
Duration: 8/1/2009 - 7/31/2011
 
Title: Using ecological momentary assessment to examine pain and smoking in head and neck cancer patients
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 4/1/2009 - 3/31/2012
 
Title: Ecological momentary assessment, peak-end rule, and smoking relapse
Funding Source: American Cancer Society (ACS)
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2013
 
Title: Neighborhood- and individual-level determinants of smoking cessation among Hispanics
Funding Source: NIH
Role: Collaborator
Principal Investigator: David Wetter
Duration: 7/1/2007 - 6/30/2012

Last updated: 4/5/2012