Janni Leung

Dr. Janni Leung is an NHMRC Development Fellow and Associate Professor at the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), University of Queensland. With qualifications in public health, sociology, and psychology, their research focuses on the epidemiology of substance use and mental health disorders. They specialize in systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and statistical modeling to assess population-level impacts of addiction, informing policy in Australia and globally. Their work has generated over 100 publications with significant citation impact.

Research Interests: Dr. Leung's program investigates comorbid substance use and mental health disorders, leveraging advanced epidemiological methods. Key areas include:

• Global patterns of cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol use
• Digital influences on substance use (social media, vaping)
• Treatment-seeking behaviors and barriers
• Development of diagnostic tools (e.g., Gaming Disorder Identification Test)
• Preventable disease burden from substance misuse

Publication Trends: Their recent work demonstrates strong emphasis on meta-analyses of global substance use patterns, digital influences on youth behavior, and methodological innovations in causal inference. Longitudinal designs and cross-national comparisons dominate their 2023-2025 output, with consistent focus on policy-relevant outcomes.

Awards & Recognition:

• NHMRC Development Fellowship (ongoing)
• Top 1% citation impact for 30% of publications

Professional Engagement: Actively supervises students in addiction research, offers methodological consultation for systematic reviews and statistical modeling, and presents regularly at conferences including APSAD. Based at UQ St Lucia campus with cross-campus collaborations.