Research Overview
Dr. Chen is a health economist whose research uses economic and data-science methods to inform health policy and reduce health disparities in the United States and China. His work evaluates how health insurance, hospital reform, and pharmaceutical policy shape healthcare use, spending, and efficiency; measures how social determinants of health, including racism, income, and place, drive inequities in health and access to care; and estimates the costs of chronic disease and the value of prevention.
Recent projects apply machine learning, spatial analysis, and novel data such as mobile phone records to health equity, COVID-19, aging, and the economics of genomics and precision public health. Drawing on his experience as a senior health economist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, with support from the NIH and private foundations.
Current Projects
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Project titleOne or two sentences on the question the project asks, the data and methods, and why it matters.Funding: Funding agency (e.g. NIH/NIMHD R01)Publications:
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Project titleOne or two sentences on the question the project asks, the data and methods, and why it matters.Funding: Funding agencyPublications:
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Project titleOne or two sentences on the question the project asks, the data and methods, and why it matters.Funding: Funding agencyPublications: forthcoming
Funded Projects
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Achieving Health Equity by Improving Participant Representativeness in the All of Us Research Program: A Pilot Community-Based Participatory Research in Georgia2024–2025NIH / Emory University, Georgia CTSA · Co-PI (with T. Rosser) · $48,771
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Disparities in Machine-Learning Modeling to Predict Hospital Readmissions among Patients Discharged to Skilled Nursing Facility2024–2025NIH / Emory University, Georgia CTSA · Co-I (PI: D. Jung) · $57,684
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Engaging Rural Georgia Communities to Understand and Eliminate Barriers to Participating in the All of Us Research Program2023–2024University of Georgia, Office of the Provost · PI · $9,933
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Principles for Global Public Health Convention2023AIDS Healthcare Foundation / University of Miami · Subcontract PI · $17,978
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Improving Prediction of Beneficiary-level Medical Costs by Incorporating Social Determinants of Health Indicators in Risk Adjustment Models to Address Health Disparities: A Machine Learning Approach2022–2023NIH AIM-AHEAD Initiative / University of North Texas · PI · $347,358
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A Workshop on Applications of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning in Health Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity2022–2023NIH AIM-AHEAD Initiative / Howard University · PI · $20,000
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Using Machine Learning and Causal Inference Methods to Examine Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (Supplement of R01 MD013886)2022–2024NIH / New York University · PI (Georgia) · $158,956
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A Special Issue in Health Equity on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Health and Health Equity2022China Medical Board · PI · $18,251
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Using Mobile Phone-generated Big Data to Evaluate the Impact of Tiered-Healthcare on Health Services Utilization and Epidemic Prevention and Control2022–2024National Natural Science Foundation of China (72174098) · PI · RMB 480,000Dr. Chen withdrew from the project in 2024 to comply with new US regulations.
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Assessing and Mitigating the Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic among Asian Americans in the US2021The Chinese Economists Society · PI (Georgia site) · $9,900
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Assessing and Mitigating the Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic among Asian Americans in Georgia2021–2022Georgia Health Foundation · PI · $12,000
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Interdisciplinary Approaches to Social Determinants of Health Research2020–2022University of Georgia, Office of Research (Interdisciplinary Pre-seed Teaming Grant) · PI · $4,250
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Leadership Evaluation in Hospital Management2020–2021National Health Commission of China, Centre for Capacity Building and Continuing Education · PI · RMB 30,000
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A Systematic Review of Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Genomic Research in China2020–2021Nottingham China Health Institute (Research Seed and Collaboration Fund) · PI · RMB 20,000
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Using Agent-based Modeling to Compare Strategies that Can Reduce Rural-Urban Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease2019–2024NIH / NIMHD (R01 MD013886) · Co-I (PI: D. Zhang) · $1,574,071
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Economic Burden of Cancer Survivorship Attributable to Physical Inactivity2019US Census Atlanta Research Data Center (Project Development Grant) · PI · $12,129
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Personalized mHealth Intervention to Aid Non-communicable Disease Management among an Elderly Population in Rural China2018–2019University of Georgia, Global Research Collaboration Grant · PI · $4,000
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Conference Support for the Chinese Economists Society Presidents’ Forum2018Zhejiang Natural Science Foundation; University of Nottingham Ningbo China · PI · RMB 80,000
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Regulatory Impact Analysis: Methods, Applications, and Implications for Emerging Economies (Conference)2017–2018University of Georgia, Office of the Provost · Co-PI · $12,000
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Impact of Local Food Prices on the Relationship between Food Stamp Program Participation & Bodyweight Status of Adults in the South2006–2008Southern Rural Development Center (Food Assistance Small Grant) · Co-I
Health Economics and Health Policy
Evaluating how health insurance, hospital reform, and pharmaceutical policy shape healthcare use, spending, and efficiency, with a focus on China and the United States.
Impact of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme on Individual Healthcare Utilization and Expenditure
Li S, Zhang D, Chen Z# (# corresponding author)
The Chinese Economy 2019
Impact of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme on Individual Healthcare Utilization and Expenditure
Li S, Zhang D, Chen Z# (# corresponding author)
The Chinese Economy 2019
Impact of pilot public hospital reform on efficiencies: a DEA analysis of county hospitals in East China, 2009-2015
Jiang W, Lou X, Chen Q, Song L, Chen Z# (# corresponding author)
Health Econ Rev 2025
Impact of pilot public hospital reform on efficiencies: a DEA analysis of county hospitals in East China, 2009-2015
Jiang W, Lou X, Chen Q, Song L, Chen Z# (# corresponding author)
Health Econ Rev 2025
Collective Pharmaceutical Procurement in China May Have Unintended Consequences in Supply and Pricing
Jiang S, Chen Z, Wu T, Wang H
Journal of Global Health 2020
Collective Pharmaceutical Procurement in China May Have Unintended Consequences in Supply and Pricing
Jiang S, Chen Z, Wu T, Wang H
Journal of Global Health 2020
Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health
Measuring how racism, income, place, and neighborhood conditions drive inequities in health outcomes and access to care.
A Standard Measure of Structural Racism, Do We Have One? Can We Have One? A Narrative Review of Commonly Used Measures and Domains of Use
Tiwari BB, McDowell C, Roberts OS, Kogan S, Chen Z, Rajbhandari-Thapa J
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024
A Standard Measure of Structural Racism, Do We Have One? Can We Have One? A Narrative Review of Commonly Used Measures and Domains of Use
Tiwari BB, McDowell C, Roberts OS, Kogan S, Chen Z, Rajbhandari-Thapa J
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024
Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Health: A Longitudinal Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in US Counties From 2009 to 2018
Son H, Zhang D, Shen Y, Jaysing A, Zhang J, Chen Z, Mu L, Liu J, Rajbhandari-Thapa J, Li Y, Pagán JA
J Am Heart Assoc 2023
Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Health: A Longitudinal Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in US Counties From 2009 to 2018
Son H, Zhang D, Shen Y, Jaysing A, Zhang J, Chen Z, Mu L, Liu J, Rajbhandari-Thapa J, Li Y, Pagán JA
J Am Heart Assoc 2023
Association between racial discrimination and delayed or forgone care amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Zhang D, Li G, Shi L, Martin E, Chen Z, Li J, Chen L, Li Y, Wen M, Chen B, Li H, Su D, Han X
Prev Med 2022
Association between racial discrimination and delayed or forgone care amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Zhang D, Li G, Shi L, Martin E, Chen Z, Li J, Chen L, Li Y, Wen M, Chen B, Li H, Su D, Han X
Prev Med 2022
Chronic Disease Prevention and Economic Evaluation
Estimating the costs of chronic disease and risk factors, and the value of prevention programs for hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity.
The Health and Economic Impact of Expanding Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Li Y, Zhang D, Li W, Chen Z, Thapa J, Mu L, Zhu H, Dong Y, Pagán JA
Am J Prev Med 2023
The Health and Economic Impact of Expanding Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Li Y, Zhang D, Li W, Chen Z, Thapa J, Mu L, Zhu H, Dong Y, Pagán JA
Am J Prev Med 2023
Inadequate Aerobic Physical Activity and Healthcare Expenditures in the United States: An Updated Cost Estimate
Matjasko JL, Chen Z, Whitfield GP, Whitsel LP, Rose K, Roy K
Am J Health Promot 2025
Inadequate Aerobic Physical Activity and Healthcare Expenditures in the United States: An Updated Cost Estimate
Matjasko JL, Chen Z, Whitfield GP, Whitsel LP, Rose K, Roy K
Am J Health Promot 2025
Identifying Options of Best Value: Use of Economic Evaluation in Public Health
Chen Z, Zhou L, Jiang S, Haddix A
China CDC Weekly 2020
Identifying Options of Best Value: Use of Economic Evaluation in Public Health
Chen Z, Zhou L, Jiang S, Haddix A
China CDC Weekly 2020
COVID-19 and Infectious Disease
Studying public trust, media, stigma, and disease forecasting during the COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemics.
Role of Media Coverage in Mitigating COVID-19 Transmission: Evidence from China
Liu N, Chen Z#, Bao G (# corresponding author)
Technological Forecasting & Social Change 2020
Role of Media Coverage in Mitigating COVID-19 Transmission: Evidence from China
Liu N, Chen Z#, Bao G (# corresponding author)
Technological Forecasting & Social Change 2020
Measuring COVID-19 stigma and mitigating effect with hypothetical and non-hypothetical auction experiments
Hao N, Wang HH, Zhang Y, Chen Z
China Economic Review 2025
Measuring COVID-19 stigma and mitigating effect with hypothetical and non-hypothetical auction experiments
Hao N, Wang HH, Zhang Y, Chen Z
China Economic Review 2025
Enhancing COVID-19 Epidemics Forecasting Accuracy by Combining Real-time and Historical Data from Multiple Internet-based Sources: Analysis of Social Media Data, Online News Articles, and Search Queries
Li J, Huang W, Sia CL, Chen Z, Wu T, Wang Q
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance 2022
Enhancing COVID-19 Epidemics Forecasting Accuracy by Combining Real-time and Historical Data from Multiple Internet-based Sources: Analysis of Social Media Data, Online News Articles, and Search Queries
Li J, Huang W, Sia CL, Chen Z, Wu T, Wang Q
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance 2022
Data Science and AI for Public Health
Applying spatial analysis, machine learning, and novel data sources to public health surveillance and decision making.
SpaCE: a spatial counterfactual explainable deep learning model for predicting out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival outcome
Zhang J, Mu L, Zhang D, Chen Z, Rajbhandari-Thapa J, Pagán JA, Li Y
International Journal of Geographical Information Science 2025
SpaCE: a spatial counterfactual explainable deep learning model for predicting out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival outcome
Zhang J, Mu L, Zhang D, Chen Z, Rajbhandari-Thapa J, Pagán JA, Li Y
International Journal of Geographical Information Science 2025
Spatiotemporal Optimization for the Placement of Automated External Defibrillators Using Mobile Phone Data
Zhang J, Mu L, Zhang D, Rajbhandari-Thapa J, Chen Z, Pagán JA, Li Y, Son H, Liu J
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 2023
Spatiotemporal Optimization for the Placement of Automated External Defibrillators Using Mobile Phone Data
Zhang J, Mu L, Zhang D, Rajbhandari-Thapa J, Chen Z, Pagán JA, Li Y, Son H, Liu J
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 2023
Aging and Mental Health
Understanding how social participation and support affect depression, cognition, and well-being among middle-aged and older adults.
Melancholy or mahjong? Diversity, frequency, type, and rural-urban divide of social participation and depression in middle- and old-aged Chinese: A fixed-effects analysis
Wang R, Chen Z, Zhou Y, Shen L, Zhang Z, Wu X
Social Science & Medicine 2019
Melancholy or mahjong? Diversity, frequency, type, and rural-urban divide of social participation and depression in middle- and old-aged Chinese: A fixed-effects analysis
Wang R, Chen Z, Zhou Y, Shen L, Zhang Z, Wu X
Social Science & Medicine 2019
Association between social participation and cognitive function among middle- and older-aged Chinese: a fixed-effects analysis
Zhou Y, Chen Z, Shaw I, Wu X, Liao S, Qi L, Huo L, Liu Y, Wang R
Journal of Global Health 2020
Association between social participation and cognitive function among middle- and older-aged Chinese: a fixed-effects analysis
Zhou Y, Chen Z, Shaw I, Wu X, Liao S, Qi L, Huo L, Liu Y, Wang R
Journal of Global Health 2020
Understanding health and social challenges for ageing and long-term care in China
Yang W, Wu B, Tan S Y, Li B, Lou V, Chen Z, Chen X, Fletcher J, Carrino L, Hu B, Zhang A, Hu M, Wang Y
Research on Aging 2021
Understanding health and social challenges for ageing and long-term care in China
Yang W, Wu B, Tan S Y, Li B, Lou V, Chen Z, Chen X, Fletcher J, Carrino L, Hu B, Zhang A, Hu M, Wang Y
Research on Aging 2021
Trust in Health Care and Health Information
Examining trust and distrust in physicians, online health communities, and health information sources, and how trust shapes preventive behavior and care seeking.
Public trust of physicians in China improved since the COVID-19 pandemic began
Li C, Khan MM, Chen Z# (# corresponding author)
Social Science & Medicine 2023
Public trust of physicians in China improved since the COVID-19 pandemic began
Li C, Khan MM, Chen Z# (# corresponding author)
Social Science & Medicine 2023
Patient distrust toward doctors in online health communities: integrating distrust construct model and social-technical systems theory
Xue J, Deng Z, Chen Z, Wu T
Information Technology & People 2023
Patient distrust toward doctors in online health communities: integrating distrust construct model and social-technical systems theory
Xue J, Deng Z, Chen Z, Wu T
Information Technology & People 2023
Predictors of patients’ loyalty towards doctors on online health communities
Wu T, Deng Z, Chen Z, Zhang D, Wu X, Wang R
Journal of Medical Internet Research 2019
Predictors of patients’ loyalty towards doctors on online health communities
Wu T, Deng Z, Chen Z, Zhang D, Wu X, Wang R
Journal of Medical Internet Research 2019
Trust in COVID-19 Information from Different Media Types and Its Association with Preventive Measures Adoption in the U.S.
Li H, Chen B, Chen Z, Chen L, Zhang D, Wen M, Li J, Li Y, Han X, Su D
J Health Commun 2023
Trust in COVID-19 Information from Different Media Types and Its Association with Preventive Measures Adoption in the U.S.
Li H, Chen B, Chen Z, Chen L, Zhang D, Wen M, Li J, Li Y, Han X, Su D
J Health Commun 2023
Americans’ Trust in COVID-19 Information from Governmental Sources in the Trump Era: Individuals’ Adoption of Preventive Measures, and Health Implications
Li H, Chen B, Chen Z, Shi L, Su D
Health Communication 2022
Americans’ Trust in COVID-19 Information from Governmental Sources in the Trump Era: Individuals’ Adoption of Preventive Measures, and Health Implications
Li H, Chen B, Chen Z, Shi L, Su D
Health Communication 2022
The role of institutional trust in preventive practices and treatment-seeking intention during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak among residents in Hubei, China
Wong LP, Wu Q, Hao Y, Chen X, Chen Z, Alias H, Shen M, Hu J, Duan S, Zhang J, Han L
Int Health 2022
The role of institutional trust in preventive practices and treatment-seeking intention during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak among residents in Hubei, China
Wong LP, Wu Q, Hao Y, Chen X, Chen Z, Alias H, Shen M, Hu J, Duan S, Zhang J, Han L
Int Health 2022
Economics of Genomics
Studying the costs, use, and value of genetic testing and precision medicine, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics for public health.
Physicians’ risk and time preferences and their willingness to detect and disclose genomic secondary findings: A multiple price list experiment
Jiang S, Wang H, Chen Z, Zang X, Jiang Y, Zhou Z, Gu Y
Pharmacoeconomics and Policy 2025
Physicians’ risk and time preferences and their willingness to detect and disclose genomic secondary findings: A multiple price list experiment
Jiang S, Wang H, Chen Z, Zang X, Jiang Y, Zhou Z, Gu Y
Pharmacoeconomics and Policy 2025
Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Genomics in China: A Scoping Review and Implications for Precision Public Health
Chen Z, Jiang W, Xu J, Jiang L, Wang G
China CDC Weekly 2022
Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Genomics in China: A Scoping Review and Implications for Precision Public Health
Chen Z, Jiang W, Xu J, Jiang L, Wang G
China CDC Weekly 2022
Breast Cancer Screening Should Embrace Precision Medicine: Evidence by Reviewing Economic Evaluations in China
Jiang J, Jiang S, Ahumada-Canale A, Chen Z, Si L, Jiang Y, Yang L, Gu Y
Adv Ther 2023
Breast Cancer Screening Should Embrace Precision Medicine: Evidence by Reviewing Economic Evaluations in China
Jiang J, Jiang S, Ahumada-Canale A, Chen Z, Si L, Jiang Y, Yang L, Gu Y
Adv Ther 2023
Trends in Utilization and Costs of BRCA Testing among Women Ages 18-64 Years in the United States, 2003-2014
Chen Z*, Kolor K*, Grosse SD, Rodriguez JL, Lynch JA, Green RF, Dotson WD, Bowen MS, Khoury MJ (* equal contribution)
Genetics in Medicine 2018
Trends in Utilization and Costs of BRCA Testing among Women Ages 18-64 Years in the United States, 2003-2014
Chen Z*, Kolor K*, Grosse SD, Rodriguez JL, Lynch JA, Green RF, Dotson WD, Bowen MS, Khoury MJ (* equal contribution)
Genetics in Medicine 2018
BRCA Genetic Testing and Receipt of Preventive Interventions among Women Aged 18–64 Years with Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas — United States, 2009–2014
Kolor K, Chen Z, Grosse SD, Rodriguez JL, Green RF, Dotson WD, Bowen MS, Lynch JA, Khoury MJ
MMWR Surveill Summ 2017
BRCA Genetic Testing and Receipt of Preventive Interventions among Women Aged 18–64 Years with Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas — United States, 2009–2014
Kolor K, Chen Z, Grosse SD, Rodriguez JL, Green RF, Dotson WD, Bowen MS, Lynch JA, Khoury MJ
MMWR Surveill Summ 2017
Precision Public Health in China: Opportunities and Challenges
Chen Z
China CDC Weekly 2022 Commentary
Precision Public Health in China: Opportunities and Challenges
Chen Z
China CDC Weekly 2022 Commentary
Key Collaborators
Frequent co-authors (five or more joint publications) and other close collaborators.
See Publications for the full list.