Xiaomei Sophia Cong, PhD, RN, FAAN
About
Dr. Xiaomei Cong is the Associate Dean for Research and Beatrice Renfield Professor at the Yale School of Nursing. An internationally recognized nurse scientist and translational health researcher, Dr. Cong is widely known for her work in biobehavioral and symptom science, focusing on pain, stress, and self-management across the lifespan. Her interdisciplinary research spans maternal-infant health, pain mechanisms, the brain-gut-microbiome axis, and integrative approaches to symptom management.
She earned her PhD from Case Western Reserve University, MSN from Chiang Mai University in Thailand, and a Bachelor of Medicine from Peking University in China. Her global educational background informs her innovative and holistic approach to research, mentorship, and leadership in health science.
Dr. Cong is among the first nurse scientists to investigate pain, stress, and neurodevelopment in infants using multi-omic approaches. Her research addresses some of the most complex challenges surrounding early life experiences in high-risk infants and the implementation of pain management strategies in vulnerable populations. Her recent studies also explore the use of complementary and integrative approaches, involving brain-gut health interventions to improve pain management and enhance patient well-being. With over 25 years of research experience and numerous NIH-funded projects, her work has made significant contributions to biobehavioral science, symptom management, health policy, and clinical practice.
Since joining Yale in 2022, Dr. Cong has led transformative efforts to expand research capacity, secure extramural funding, and foster the next generation of nurse scientists. She is deeply committed to mentoring students and junior faculty, advancing interdisciplinary collaboration, and promoting equity-focused, patient-centered care through innovative research.
Research Interests
Biobehavioral mechanisms of pain, stress, and pain self-management; multi-omics and brain-gut-microbiome approaches; early life experience and pain management, infant feeding, neurodevelopment, preterm health outcomes; and maternal-child health; complementary approaches to improve pain and symptom management and health outcomes.
Current Grant Supports
NIH NCCIH 1R34AT012917-01A1 (Cong, Contact PI; Chen, MPI) - Title: Home-Based Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) for Pain and Symptom Management among Young Adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
NIH NINR 1R25NR021367-01 (Cong, Contact PI; Vlahov, Nelson, Sarpong, MPI) - Title: Comprehensive Advancement in Research Education and Training for Social Determinants of Health (CARES)
NIH NIDDK 1R01DK138248-01 (Posada-Quintero, PI; Cong, site Co-PI) - Title: Objective Integrated Multimodal Electrophysiological Index for the Quantification of Visceral Pain
NIH 5UL1TR001863-08 (Smith, B.R. & Krystal, J. MPI; Cong: Co-I) - Title: Yale Clinical and Translational Science Award
Selected Publications
Zhao, T., Li, A., Chang, X., Xu, W., Quinn, T., Chen, J., Matson, A.P., Chen, M., Taylor, S.N., Cong, X. (2025). Sex-differences in Mothers’ Own Milk and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Preterm Infants, Frontiers in Pediatrics, 27 March 2025; Sec. Neonatology Volume 13 – 2025 https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2025.1523952
Zhao, T., Li, A., Bo, R., Cong, Q., Taylor, S.N., Matson, A., Chen, M., Alder, N.N., & Cong, X. (2024). Association between Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes among Black and White Preterm Infants up to Two Years of Age. Interdiscip Nurs Res. 2024 Oct 1;3(3):149-156. doi: 10.1097/NR9.0000000000000071. PMID: 39554223; PMCID: PMC11567671.
Barandouzi ZA, Chen J, Henderson WA, Starkweather AR, Cong XS. (2024). Nurse-led self-management support to improve symptom management and self-reported outcomes in people with irritable bowel syndrome. Interdiscip Nurs Res. 2024 Sep 26;3(3):163-168. doi: 10.1097/NR9.0000000000000069. PMID: 39554222; PMCID: PMC11567672.
Chen, J., Zhao, T., Li, H., Xu, W., Maas, K., Singh, V., Chen, M., Starkweather, A.R., Cong, X. (2024). Multi-omics analysis of gut microbiota and host transcriptomics reveal dysregulated immune response and metabolism in young adults with irritable bowel syndrome, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024 Mar 20;25(6):3514. doi: 10.3390/ijms25063514. PMID: 38542485; PMCID: PMC10970623.
Zhao T, Chang X, Biswas SK, Balsbaugh JL, Liddle J, Chen MH, Matson AP, Alder NN, Cong X. (2024) Pain/Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants. Developmental Neuroscience. 2024;46(5):341-352. doi: 10.1159/000536509. Epub 2024 Jan 29. PMID: 38286121; PMCID: PMC11284246.
Chen, J., Li, H., Zhao, T., Chen, K., Chen, M.H., Sun, Z., Xu, W., Maas, K., Lester, B., & Cong X. (2023) The impact of early life experiences and gut microbiota on neurobehavioral development among preterm infants: A longitudinal cohort study. Microorganisms. 2023 Mar 22;11(3):814. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11030814. PMID: 36985387; PMCID: PMC10056840