Qing Cheng

Dr. Qing Cheng serves as a neuroscience researcher at the Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute (BBRI) at North Carolina Central University, where she manages the imaging facility to support health disparities translational research. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester and completed postdoctoral training at Duke University.

Her primary research focuses on synaptic transmission mechanisms in physiological and pathological conditions, with particular emphasis on Alzheimer's disease as it disproportionately affects African Americans. Her laboratory investigates the impact of APOE4 on nicotinic receptor function in hippocampal neurons, bridging molecular neuroscience with health equity concerns. Research spans

• Molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity
• Cholinergic and glutamatergic transmission
• Neurodegenerative disease pathways
• Health disparities in neurological disorders

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory from fundamental synaptic physiology toward disease-oriented neuroscience. Early work established her expertise in GABA receptor kinetics and synaptic vesicle dynamics, while recent publications focus on α7 nicotinic receptors in Alzheimer's contexts and their implications for health disparities. The 2023 publication on esophageal cancer metastasis represents an unusual but significant expansion into translational cancer biology.

Dr. Cheng's scientific contributions include

• Elucidating presynaptic mechanisms of BDNF action
• Characterizing α7 nicotinic receptor signaling pathways
• Demonstrating APOE4's impact on neuronal function
• Developing imaging approaches for health disparities research

Her collaborative research involves extensive partnerships with Duke University and other institutions, particularly in neuropharmacology and molecular neuroscience. Current work emphasizes translational applications of basic synaptic mechanisms to address Alzheimer's disease disparities in African American populations, utilizing advanced imaging and electrophysiological techniques at the BBRI facility she manages.