Professor Yoo Hee-jung of the Department of Psychiatry at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital has been selected as Korea's representative to the Global Senior Leadership Committee (GSL) of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR).
Starting April 23, she will serve a three-year term representing Korea, communicating with the INSAR board of directors, promoting autism spectrum disorder research developments to the international community, and facilitating information exchange.
INSAR is an international academic organization bringing together experts from various fields including research, clinical practice, and education to advance the scientific understanding of autism spectrum disorder. The organization operates the GSL, comprising approximately 50 members, to guide strategic directions for autism spectrum disorder research by country and build international collaboration.
Professor Yoo became the first Korean selected as a GSL representative in recognition of her contributions, including publishing numerous papers on genetic mutations causing autism spectrum disorder and conducting genetic clinical research. She has performed large-scale genomic studies on patients with autism spectrum disorder and their families, and was the first in the world to discover new genetic mutations associated with autism spectrum disorder onset. She also achieved the milestone of developing Korea's first social skills training and executive function improvement programs to help adults with autism spectrum disorder adapt to social activities.
She previously served as president of the Korean Academy of Autism Spectrum Disorder and currently serves as chairperson of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and as textbook editor for the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions.
"I believe this is an important opportunity to elevate and internationalize the global standing of Korean autism spectrum disorder research," Professor Yoo said. "I will focus on strengthening cooperation with autism spectrum disorder researchers worldwide and promoting Korean research achievements on the global stage."