Research
Dr. Jiawen Liao’s research integrates environmental data, electronic health records and clinical data, and use environmental epidemiology, exposure modelling and data science methods to advance the understanding of environmental impacts of population health. Specifically, Dr. Liao collaborates with Pulmonary Medicine and across Cleveland Clinic to assess health effects of air pollution from indoor and outdoor environment, extreme weather events and disasters. His research also focused on methodological development to improve exposure assessment of geospatial risk factors through modelling and modelling.
Biography
Jiawen Liao, PhD., is an assistant staff and faculty environmental epidemiology in the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences at Cleveland Clinic Research. He serves as a member in the Center for Environment, Place and Health Research (CEPHR) of Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Liao holds a Temporary Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinical Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Adjunct Research Assistant Professor at Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California. Prior to joining the faculty at Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Liao completed a 5-year postdoctoral training at Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California and worked as a Research Associate for one year.
Education & Professional Highlights
Date Appointed: April 2026
Education: PhD., Environmental Health Sciences – Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 2020
MS., Environmental Health Sciences – University of California, Berkeley, CA, 2016
BS. Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing China, 2014
Research
Dr. Jiawen Liao’s research integrates environmental data, electronic health records and clinical data, and use environmental epidemiology, exposure modelling and data science methods to advance the understanding of environmental impacts of population health. Specifically, Dr. Liao collaborates with Pulmonary Medicine and across Cleveland Clinic to assess health effects of air pollution from indoor and outdoor environment, extreme weather events and disasters. His research also focused on methodological development to improve exposure assessment of geospatial risk factors through modelling and modelling.
Our Team
Selected Publications
1. Liao J, Yan W, Zhang Y, Berhane K, Chen W, Yang Z, Qiu C, Ge Y, Bai Z, Han B, Xu J, Jiang YH, Gilliland FD, Zhang JJ, Huang G, Chen Z. Associations of preconception air pollution exposure with growth trajectory in young children: A prospective cohort study. Environ Res. 2025 Feb 15;267:120665. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2024.120665 PubMed PMID: 39706320; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11878012.
2. Wang L, Wang B, Liao J, Zhang J, Su X, Yan J, Xu W, Lin J, Sun G, Wang L, Tang L. Cardiovascular Emergency Hospitalization Risks of PM2. 5 Transition Metals: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study. Environment & Health. 2025 Jan 7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/envhealth.4c00204
3. Qiu C, Liao J, Gheissari R, Li C, Kapai A, Conti DV, Jones DP, Bastain TM, Breton CV, Chen Z. Dysregulated maternal and newborn fatty acid, sugar and amino acid metabolism associated with high birth weight. International Journal of Obesity. 2025 Apr 17:1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01775-9
4. Qiu C, Chen W, Kang N, Liao J, Osazuwa N, Schimke C, Sjodin A, Calafat AM, Botelho JC, Jones D, Buchanan T, Xiang AH, Chen Z. Maternal factors associated with plasma concentrations of endocrine-disrupting persistent organic pollutants including PFAS among Hispanic women from pregnancy to the post-delivery period. Environ Int. 2025 Sep;203:109723. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2025.109723 PubMed PMID: 40816047; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12651189.
5. McCracken JP, McCollum ED, Steenland K, Nicolaou L, Kirby MA, Grajeda LM, Rosa G, Mukeshimana A, Ndagijimana F, Balakrishnan K, Thangavel G, Garg SS, Sambandam S, Mukhopadhyay K, Aravindalochanan V, Díaz-Artiga A, Castañaza A, Thompson LM, Chiang M, Hartinger SM, Simkovich SM, Waller LA, Chang HH, Jabbarzadeh S, Wang J, Chen Y, Naeher LP, Pillarisetti A, Johnson M, Williams KN, Underhill LJ, Papageorghiou AT, Clasen TF, Peel JL, Checkley W, Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) Investigators (Team contributor of HAPIN Investigators). Exposure to Household Air Pollution From Biomass Cooking and Severe Pneumonia in Infants. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Oct 1;8(10):e2538721. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.38721 PubMed PMID: 41160028; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12573034.
6. Chen JC, Goodrich JA, Liao J, Li S, Jia Q, Walker DI, Costello E, Alderete TL, Goran MI, Valvi D, Pan S. Mediating role of proteomics in the association between per-and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure and blood pressure in youth. Environmental Pollution. 2025 Oct 31:127336. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127336
7. Liao J, Habre R, Garcia E, Eckel SP, Kossowsky J, Herting MM, Chen W, Qiu C, Yuang Z, McConnel R, Gilliland F, Redline S, Chen Z. Impact of heat exposure on sleep health and its population vulnerability in the United States. Environment International. 2025 Nov 19:109942. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109942
8. Chen R, Lin Y, Liao J, Qiu C, Chen W, Ge Y, Yang Z, Gilliland F, Bergin M, Kalafut D, Wilson M, Black M, Chen Z, Zhang JJ. Fine particulate matter levels and HEPA filtration in Los Angeles homes during a wildland-urban-interface fire. NPJ Clean Air. 2026;2(1):3. doi:10.1038/s44407-025-00042-5 PubMed PMID: 41550628; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12804073.
9. Qiu C, Chen W, Kang N, Liao J, Yang Z, Tran V, Jones DP, Gilliland FD, Buchanan TA, Xiang AH, Chen Z. Novel amino acid and fatty acid signatures linked to type 2 diabetes risk after gestational diabetes mellitus. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2026 Apr 3;25(1):123. doi:10.1186/s12933-026-03144-w PubMed PMID: 41933349; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC13072498.