Dr. Vivian Cheung

Biography

Vivian G. Cheung is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry. She earned her BS from UCLA and her MD from Tufts University, followed by pediatrics training and a postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA, coupled with neurology training at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Cheung has previously held endowed professorships at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan. Her research delves into genetic mechanisms of disease, specifically the alterations in RNA processing that affect gene expression. She has made significant discoveries in understanding how RNA sequences differ from their corresponding DNA templates, demonstrating the impact of these differences on RNA modifications during transcription and their structural formations, such as R-loops. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Cheung applies her research insights to advance the understanding of neurological disorders like juvenile-onset ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. She has also provided national leadership within the scientific community, serving as President of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and contributing to important reports including one from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on sequencing RNA modifications. Dr. Cheung is a dedicated advocate for diversifying the biomedical workforce and has published influential articles in leading medical journals. Through her mentorship, she has shaped a generation of scientists and trainees, many of whom have received prestigious honors.

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Awards