About

Ah Young Hong is an associate professor in the Vocal Studies Department at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. She is a soprano recognized for her transfixing and riveting performances, praised for her fearlessness and consummate artistry. Hong has interpreted a vast repertoire ranging from early music by Machaut, Monteverdi, Bach, Mozart, and Poulenc to 20th and 21st-century works by Shostakovich, Babbitt, Kurtág, Haas, and others. She is a long-time exponent of Michael Hersch's music, having given the world premieres of his monodrama, On the Threshold of Winter, and his script of storms, receiving high praise from The New York Times and Opera News for her courageous and technically impressive performances. Hong is in high demand as a concert and chamber soloist, having performed with numerous prestigious orchestras and ensembles such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Bern, Ensemble Phoenix Basel, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and others. She has collaborated with notable soloists including Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Antje Thierbach, and has appeared at prominent festivals and series including the Aldeburgh Music Festival, Ojai Festival, Wien Modern Festival, and the Seattle Symphony Recital Series. In opera, she has premiered works by Michael Hersch, including the title role in Poppaea at the 2021 ZeitRäume Basel Festival, and roles such as Monteverdi’s Poppea, Handel’s Morgana, Verdi’s Gilda, and others. Hong has also performed with Opera Lafayette and Charpentier’s Les Arts Florissants at the Kennedy Center. A prolific recording artist, Hong has recorded the U.S. premiere of J.S. Bach’s Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn’ ihn for NPR’s Performance Today, along with other works including Rebel and Francoeur’s Zélindor, roi des Sylphes, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, and collaborations with Ensemble Klang and Innova Recordings. She is recognized as an important new soprano, unafraid of contemporary challenges, and has been praised for her landmark performances of significant works. Currently, she serves as an associate professor in the Vocal Studies Department at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Computer Science
• Sociology
• Advertising
• Psychology
• World Wide Web
• Public relations
• Business

Selected publications

• Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Total and Unbound Pamiparib in Glioblastoma Patients: Insights into Drug Disposition and Dosing Optimization

  Pharmaceutics · 2025-04-16

  articleOpen access

  Background: This study aimed to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model that characterized the plasma concentration–time profiles of the total and unbound pamiparib, a PARP inhibitor, in glioblastoma patients and identified patient factors influencing the PK. Methods: The total and unbound pamiparib plasma concentration data were obtained from 41 glioblastoma patients receiving 60 mg of pamiparib twice daily. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was performed using Monolix (2024R1) to simultaneously fit the total and unbound drug plasma concentration data. The covariate model was developed by covariate screening using generalized additive modeling followed by stepwise covariate modeling. Model simulations were performed following oral doses of 10–60 mg BID. Results: The total and unbound pamiparib plasma concentration–time profiles were best described by a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination. Creatinine clearance and age were the significant covariates on the apparent volume of distribution (V/F) and apparent clearance (CL/F), respectively, explaining ~22% and ~5% of IIV of V/F and CL/F. Population estimates of the absorption rate constant (Ka), V/F, CL/F, and unbound fraction for the total drug were 1.58 h−1, 44 L, 2.59 L/h, and 0.041. Model simulations suggested that doses as low as 20 mg BID may be adequate for therapeutic effects in a general patient population, assuming that a target engagement ratio (i.e., unbound Css,min/IC50) of 5 or above is sufficient for full target engagement. Conclusions: The total and unbound pamiparib plasma PK are well characterized by a linear one-compartment model, with creatinine clearance as the significant covariate on V/F. Model simulations support further clinical investigation into dose reduction to optimize the benefit-to-risk ratio of pamiparib, particularly in combination therapies.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• An early clinical trial of 5-ALA sonodynamic therapy in recurrent high-grade glioma

  Science Translational Medicine · 2025-11-26 · 6 citations

  article

  Systemic administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) results in accumulation of the sonosensitizing compound protoporphyrin IX in tumor cells because of their aberrant metabolism. Activation of protoporphyrin IX by noninvasive, magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) sonodynamic therapy (SDT) induces production of reactive oxygen species and tumor cytotoxicity. In this first-in-human, open-label, early clinical study (NCT04559685), safety and biological efficacy of ascending doses of MRgFUS combined with intravenous administration of 5-ALA (SONALA-001) were assessed in nine patients with recurrent high-grade glioma. The safety assessment revealed no drug-related or device-related toxicities. Pharmacokinetic analysis provided quantitative information on the concentration of 5-ALA and protoporphyrin IX in plasma, blood, and brain tissue. Comparison of pharmacodynamic markers between half of the tumor region treated with MRgFUS compared with the untreated tumor provided information on dose-related changes in markers of oxidative stress and cell death for each patient's tumor. This early phase clinical trial demonstrates proof of principle for 5-ALA SDT as a therapeutic modality for glioma. Further research is needed to optimize treatment parameters for clinical efficacy and to explore the potential of 5-ALA SDT in other types of cancer.

  PublisherDOI

• Cigarette Packs With URLs Leading to Tobacco Company Websites: Content Analysis

  Journal of Medical Internet Research · 2020 · 5 citations

  • Political Science
  • Computer Science
  • Advertising

  BACKGROUND: Tobacco companies include on the packaging of their products URLs directing consumers to websites that contain protobacco messages. Online media tend to be underregulated and provide the industry with an opportunity to present users with protobacco communication. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to document the content of websites that were advertised on tobacco packs in 14 low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: We purchased tobacco packs from 14 low- and middle-income countries in 2013 and examined them for the presence of URLs. We visited unique URLs on multiple occasions between October 1, 2016 and August 9, 2017. We developed a coding checklist and used it to conduct a content analysis of active corporate websites to identify types of protobacco communication. The coding checklist included the presence of regulatory controls and warnings, engagement strategies, marketing appeals (eg, description of product popularity, luxury/quality, taste), corporate social responsibility programs, and image management. We coded brand websites separately and also described social media and other website types. RESULTS: We identified 89 unique URLs, of which 54 were active during the search period. We assessed 26 corporate websites, 21 brand websites, 2 nontobacco websites, and 5 social media pages. We excluded 2 corporate websites and 14 brand websites due to limited accessible content or incomplete content. Corporate social responsibility was discussed on all corporate websites, and marketing appeals were also common. Corporate websites were also more likely to include more nonspecific (12/24, 50%) than specific (7/24, 29%) health warnings. Promotions (6/7, 86%) and sociability appeals (3/7, 43%) were common on brand websites. The small number of social media webpages in our sample used gendered marketing. CONCLUSIONS: URLs appearing on tobacco packs direct consumers to websites where users are exposed to marketing that highlights the "positive" contributions of tobacco companies on corporate websites, and extensive promotions and marketing appeals on brand websites and social media pages. It is essential that marketing regulations become more comprehensive and ban all protobacco communication, a policy that is in line with articles 5.3 and 13 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. For countries that already ban internet tobacco advertising, enforcement efforts should be strengthened. Tobacco companies' use of URLs on packs may also be compelling for plain packaging advocacy, where all branding is removed from the pack and large graphic health warning labels are the only communication on the tobacco packaging. Future research should consider including tobacco websites in marketing surveillance.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A database of geopositioned Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus occurrences

  Scientific Data · 2019-12-13 · 29 citations

  articleOpen access

  As a World Health Organization Research and Development Blueprint priority pathogen, there is a need to better understand the geographic distribution of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and its potential to infect mammals and humans. This database documents cases of MERS-CoV globally, with specific attention paid to zoonotic transmission. An initial literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus; after screening articles according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria, a total of 208 sources were selected for extraction and geo-positioning. Each MERS-CoV occurrence was assigned one of the following classifications based upon published contextual information: index, unspecified, secondary, mammal, environmental, or imported. In total, this database is comprised of 861 unique geo-positioned MERS-CoV occurrences. The purpose of this article is to share a collated MERS-CoV database and extraction protocol that can be utilized in future mapping efforts for both MERS-CoV and other infectious diseases. More broadly, it may also provide useful data for the development of targeted MERS-CoV surveillance, which would prove invaluable in preventing future zoonotic spillover.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Database of geopostioned Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus occurrences

  Figshare · 2019-01-01

  datasetOpen access

  A database of geopostioned Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus occurrences with associated metadata.

  PublisherDOI

• Cigarette Packs With URLs Leading to Tobacco Company Websites: Content Analysis (Preprint)

  2019-06-24

  preprintOpen access

  <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Tobacco companies include on the packaging of their products URLs directing consumers to websites that contain protobacco messages. Online media tend to be underregulated and provide the industry with an opportunity to present users with protobacco communication. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> The objective of our study was to document the content of websites that were advertised on tobacco packs in 14 low- and middle-income countries. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> We purchased tobacco packs from 14 low- and middle-income countries in 2013 and examined them for the presence of URLs. We visited unique URLs on multiple occasions between October 1, 2016 and August 9, 2017. We developed a coding checklist and used it to conduct a content analysis of active corporate websites to identify types of protobacco communication. The coding checklist included the presence of regulatory controls and warnings, engagement strategies, marketing appeals (eg, description of product popularity, luxury/quality, taste), corporate social responsibility programs, and image management. We coded brand websites separately and also described social media and other website types. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> We identified 89 unique URLs, of which 54 were active during the search period. We assessed 26 corporate websites, 21 brand websites, 2 nontobacco websites, and 5 social media pages. We excluded 2 corporate websites and 14 brand websites due to limited accessible content or incomplete content. Corporate social responsibility was discussed on all corporate websites, and marketing appeals were also common. Corporate websites were also more likely to include more nonspecific (12/24, 50%) than specific (7/24, 29%) health warnings. Promotions (6/7, 86%) and sociability appeals (3/7, 43%) were common on brand websites. The small number of social media webpages in our sample used gendered marketing. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> URLs appearing on tobacco packs direct consumers to websites where users are exposed to marketing that highlights the “positive” contributions of tobacco companies on corporate websites, and extensive promotions and marketing appeals on brand websites and social media pages. It is essential that marketing regulations become more comprehensive and ban all protobacco communication, a policy that is in line with articles 5.3 and 13 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. For countries that already ban internet tobacco advertising, enforcement efforts should be strengthened. Tobacco companies’ use of URLs on packs may also be compelling for plain packaging advocacy, where all branding is removed from the pack and large graphic health warning labels are the only communication on the tobacco packaging. Future research should consider including tobacco websites in marketing surveillance. </sec>

  PublisherDOI

• What Works?: Engaging the Public Through Social Media

  Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) · 2018-11-01 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access

  A guide from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement and network contributors

  PublisherOA PDF

Frequent coauthors

• Julia Hon

  3 shared

• Ian D. Letourneau

  Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

  3 shared

• Simon I Hay

  3 shared

• Rebecca E. Ramshaw

  Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

  3 shared

• David M. Pigott

  3 shared

• Shreya Shirude

  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

  3 shared

• Joshua C. P. Osborne

  Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

  3 shared

• Caitlin Weiger

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  2 shared