Yong Cui, PhD
Department of Behavioral Science, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences
About Dr. Yong Cui
I study psychophysiology, including ERP and facial EMG, related to the affective, attentional, and inhibitory processes impacted by nicotine dependence and withdrawal. In addition to my research interest in identifying cognitive and affective mechanisms in smoking and its intervention, I am also interested in leveraging novel technologies, particularly smartphone apps, to develop non-pharmacological treatments for nicotine dependence. Complementing conventional pharmacotherapies, these mobile interventions can potentially improve smokers' capability of quitting smoking. I have also pursued research in the tobacco regulatory science, particularly in the domain of electronic cigarettes.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2012 | Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA, PHD, Translational Addiction Research |
| 2007 | School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, CHN, BS, Biological Sciences |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Instructor, Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2020
Honors & Awards
| 2012 | Halliburton Employees Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Prevention Research, Cancer Prevention Research & Training Program, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2010 | Poster Winner, Trainee Research Day, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2006 | Excellent Group Member of the Undergraduate Association of Fudan University, Fudan University |
| 2004 | People’s Scholarship, Fudan University |
| 2004 | Team Leader Awarded of the Best Ten Social Practical Projects of Undergraduates, Shanghai University |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Robinson JD, Cui Y, Karam-Hage M, Kypriotakis G, Versace F, Ait-Daoud Tiouririne N, Anthenelli RM, Cinciripini PM. Topiramate decreases the salience of motivationally relevant visual cues among smokers who abuse alcohol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 46(3):384-395, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35037278.
- Robinson JD, Karam-Hage M, Kypriotakis G, Beneventi D, Blalock JA, Cui Y, Gonzalez R, Tayar J, Chaftari P, Cinciripini PM. Bupropion XL and SR have similar effectiveness and adverse event profiles when used to treat smoking among patients at a comprehensive cancer center. Am J Addict 3. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35347796.
- Cui Y, Robinson JD, Rymer RE, Minnix JA, Cinciripini PM. Python Package abstcal: An Open-Source Tool for Calculating Abstinence from Timeline Followback Data. Nicotine Tob Res 24(1):146-148, 2022. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33912971.
- Robinson JD, Cui Y, Linares Abrego P, Engelmann JM, Prokhorov AV, Vidrine DJ, Shete S, Cinciripini PM. Sustained reduction of attentional bias to smoking cues by smartphone-delivered attentional bias modification training for smokers. Psychol Addict Behav. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35025555.
- Cui Y, Robinson JD, Rymer RE, Minnix JA, Cinciripini PM. You don't need an app – Conducting mobile smoking research using a Qualtrics-based approach. Front Digit Health 3(799468), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35072.
- Cui Y, Robinson JD, Rymer RE, Minnix JA, Cinciripini PM. You Don't Need an App-Conducting Mobile Smoking Research Using a Qualtrics-Based Approach. Front Digit Health 3:799468, 2021. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35072151.
- Cui Y, Engelmann JM, Gilbert DG, Waters AJ, Cinciripini PM, Robinson JD. The impact of nicotine dose and instructed dose on smokers' implicit attitudes to smoking cues: An ERP study. Psychol Addict Behav 33(8):710-720, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31657594.
- Versace F, Stevens EM, Robinson JD, Cui Y, Deweese MM, Engelmann JM, Green CE, Karam-Hage M, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Brain Responses to Cigarette-Related and Emotional Images in Smokers During Smoking Cessation: No Effect of Varenicline or Bupropion on the Late Positive Potential. Nicotine Tob Res 21(2):234-240, 2019. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29220524.
- Cui Y, Engelmann JM, Xian J, Minnix JA, Lam CY, Karam-Hage M, Cinciripini PM, Robinson JD. Pharmacological intervention and abstinence in smokers undergoing cessation treatment: A psychophysiological study. Int J Psychophysiol 123:25-34, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29223599.
- Robinson JD, Versace F, Engelmann JM, Cui Y, Gilbert DG, Waters AJ, Gritz ER, Cinciripini PM. Attentional bias to smoking and other motivationally relevant cues is affected by nicotine exposure and dose expectancy. J Psychopharmacol 30(7):627-40, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27097731.
- Cui Y, Tang R, Lam CY, Cinciripini PM, Robinson JD. The influence of personality traits on smokers' affect, withdrawal and cessation intervention outcome. Addict Behav 54:7-11, 2016. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26656672.
- Cui Y, Robinson JD, Engelmann JM, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Karam-Hage M, Wetter DW, Dani JA, Kosten TR, Cinciripini PM. Reinforcement sensitivity underlying treatment-seeking smokers' affect, smoking reinforcement motives, and affective responses. Psychol Addict Behav 29(2):300-11, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25621416.
- Robinson JD, Versace F, Engelmann JM, Cui Y, Slapin A, Oum R, Cinciripini PM. The motivational salience of cigarette-related stimuli among former, never, and current smokers. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 23(1):37-48, 2015. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25436840.
- Robinson JD, Engelmann JM, Cui Y, Versace F, Waters AJ, Gilbert DG, Gritz ER, Cinciripini PM. The effects of nicotine dose expectancy and motivationally relevant distracters on vigilance. Psychol Addict Behav 28(3):752-60, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24841184.
- Minnix JA, Versace F, Robinson JD, Lam CY, Engelmann JM, Cui Y, Brown VL, Cinciripini PM. The late positive potential (LPP) in response to varying types of emotional and cigarette stimuli in smokers: a content comparison. Int J Psychophysiol 89(1):18-25, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23643564.
- Cui Y, Versace F, Engelmann JM, Minnix JA, Robinson JD, Lam CY, Karam-Hage M, Brown VL, Wetter DW, Dani JA, Kosten TR, Cinciripini PM. Alpha oscillations in response to affective and cigarette-related stimuli in smokers. Nicotine Tob Res 15(5):917-24, 2013. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23060019.
- Robinson JD, Versace F, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Engelmann JM, Cui Y, Karam-Hage M, Shete SS, Tomlinson GE, Chen TT, Wetter DW, Green CE, Cinciripini PM. The CHRNA3 rs578776 Variant is Associated with an Intrinsic Reward Sensitivity Deficit in Smokers. Front Psychiatry 4:114, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24065931.
- Cui Y, Robinson JD, Versace F, Lam CY, Minnix JA, Karam-Hage M, Dani JA, Kosten TR, Wetter DW, Brown VL, Cinciripini PM. Differential cigarette-related startle cue reactivity among light, moderate, and heavy smokers. Addict Behav 37(8):885-9, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22571920.
- Lam CY, Robinson JD, Versace F, Minnix JA, Cui Y, Carter BL, Wetter DW, Cinciripini PM. Affective reactivity during smoking cessation of never-quitters as compared with that of abstainers, relapsers, and continuing smokers. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 20(2):139-50, 2012. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 22039752.
- Engelmann JM, Versace F, Robinson JD, Minnix JA, Lam CY, Cui Y, Brown VL, Cinciripini PM. Neural substrates of smoking cue reactivity: a meta-analysis of fMRI studies. Neuroimage 60(1):252-62, 2012. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 22206965.
- 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, 2011. PMID: 21341922.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Evaluating Concomitant Use of Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes Among Daily and Non-Daily Smokers on Abuse Liability |
| Funding Source: | NIH/FDA |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | The potential risks and benefits of electronic cigarettes to older smokers at high risk for lung cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Genetic substrates of a novel neural biomarker for smoking cessation |
| Funding Source: | American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Gender differences in Standard Research E-Cigarette (SREC) product use, acceptability, reinforcement, and nicotine dependence symptoms |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIDA |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Creating and disseminating an open-source localizable mobile tobacco research and intervention platform (mTRIP) |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |