Young-Ah Woo
Overview
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...Young-Ah Woo
Overview
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Dr. Young-Ah Woo is an early-career researcher specializing in neuroimaging and biomarkers for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) at Seoul National University in South Korea. Her research focuses on advancing early diagnosis and disease monitoring for atypical parkinsonisms through innovative biomarker development, with particular attention to validating approaches in Asian populations["@taupet2024"][@csf2023].
Dr. Woo has emerged as a leading figure in Korean and Asian neurodegenerative disease research, contributing crucial data on tau PET imaging, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, and cross-ethnic validation of diagnostic approaches. Her work addresses the critical need for biomarker validation in populations historically underrepresented in clinical research.
Current Position
- Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Seoul National University
- Member, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group
- Investigator, International PSP Genetics Consortium
Education and Training
- MD/PhD: Combined MD-PhD program at Seoul National University, South Korea
- PhD Focus: Neuroimaging biomarkers in movement disorders
- Postdoctoral Training: Specialized training in tau PET imaging at Samsung Medical Center
- Additional Training: Clinical trial methodology, PET radiotracer development
Research Focus
Dr. Woo's research program spans multiple domains of biomarker development for PSP:
Tau PET Imaging
Her tau PET research has been instrumental in characterizing pathology in Korean patients[@taupet2024][@tauimaging][@pbb3][@apn1607]:
- [^11C]PBB3 Studies: Characterized tau deposition patterns using this second-generation tracer in Korean PSP patients
- [^18F]APN-1607 Validation: Evaluated the diagnostic utility of this novel tau PET tracer
- Subtype Patterns: Identified characteristic tau distribution patterns differentiating PSP subtypes
Fluid Biomarker Development
Dr. Woo has made significant contributions to biomarker validation in Asian populations[@csf2023][@ptau2172023][@nflbiomarker]:
- Cross-Ethnic Validation: Compared CSF biomarker levels between Asian and Western PSP populations
- p-tau217 Utility: Investigated phosphorylated tau 217 for discriminating PSP from Parkinson's disease
- NfL Studies: Validated neurofilament light chain as a progression marker in Asian cohorts
Early Diagnostic Biomarkers
Her work on early diagnosis addresses critical gaps in prodromal PSP identification[@early2021][@prodromal]:
- Biomarker Combinations: Evaluated multi-marker panels for early detection
- Clinical Correlates: Characterized prodromal clinical features in Korean patients
- Risk Stratification: Developed approaches for identifying at-risk individuals
Genetic Studies
Contributing to understanding of PSP genetics in Asian populations[@genetics2021][@asiancohorts]:
- Korean Cohorts: Characterized genetic architecture of PSP in Korean patients
- Population Genetics: Identified East Asian-specific genetic variants
- International Consortia: Active collaborator in International PSP Genetics Consortium
Key Publications
Tau PET Imaging
Longitudinal tau PET changes in PSP: A Korean cohort study (2024) — First longitudinal tau PET study in Korean PSP patients, demonstrating progressive tau accumulation over 2-year follow-up[@taupet2024].
Tau PET imaging in 4R-tauopathies (2021) — Comprehensive review of tau PET tracers and their applications in PSP and related disorders[@tauimaging].
[^11C]PBB3 PET imaging in tauopathies (2020) — Early work establishing utility of this tracer in Korean cohorts[@pbb3].
[^18F]APN-1607 tau PET in PSP (2020) — Validation of third-generation tau tracer in PSP patients[@apn1607].Fluid Biomarkers
Comparison of CSF biomarkers across Asian and Western PSP populations (2023) — Cross-ethnic validation study establishing biomarker cutoffs for Asian populations[@csf2023].
Utility of p-tau217 for discriminating PSP from PD (2023) — Demonstrated p-tau217 superiority over other tau species for differential diagnosis[@ptau2172023].
Neurofilament light chain in PSP progression (2020) — Established NfL as marker of disease severity and progression[@nflbiomarker].Clinical Research
Early diagnostic biomarkers for atypical parkinsonism (2021) — Systematic evaluation of biomarker combinations for early detection[@early2021].
Clinical characteristics of PSP in Korean populations (2021) — Phenotypic characterization of Korean PSP patients[@koreanpsp].
MRI patterns in PSP subtypes (2022) — Neuroimaging correlates of clinical subtypes in Korean cohort[@mri2022].Review Articles
Fluid biomarkers for atypical parkinsonism (2021) — Comprehensive review of current biomarker landscape[@biomarkers2021].
Genetics of PSP in East Asian populations (2021) — Genetic characterization of Asian PSP cohorts[@genetics2021].Institutional Affiliations
| Institution | Role | Years |
|-------------|------|-------|
| Seoul National University | Assistant Professor | 2021-Present |
| Samsung Medical Center | Postdoctoral Fellow | 2019-2021 |
| International PSP Genetics Consortium | Member | 2020-Present |
Collaborative Networks
Dr. Woo actively collaborates with international research networks:
International PSP Genetics Consortium: Contributing Korean cohort data to global genetic studies
Asian Tau Imaging Society: Regional collaboration on PET imaging
Korean Movement Disorder Society: National research network
Samsung Medical Center: Ongoing research collaborationResearch Impact
Her contributions to the field include:
Cross-Ethnic Validation: Establishing biomarker reference ranges for Asian populations
Tracer Development: Contributing to validation of novel tau PET tracers
Clinical Infrastructure: Building Korean PSP research infrastructureTeaching and Training
Dr. Woo is involved in medical education:
- Lectures on neuroimaging in movement disorders at Seoul National University
- Training medical residents in biomarker research methodology
- Mentorship of graduate students in neuroimaging analysis
Future Research Directions
Current and planned research initiatives include:
- Multi-year longitudinal biomarker studies in Korean PSP cohorts
- Development of point-of-care diagnostic platforms
- Integration of digital biomarkers with fluid and imaging measures
- Clinical trial participation for emerging PSP therapeutics
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Woo has received several notable recognitions for her research contributions:
- 2024: Korean Neurological Association Young Investigator Award for pioneering work in Asian PSP cohorts
- 2023: Movement Disorder Society Early Career Researcher Grant
- 2022: Korean Society of Movement Disorders Young Scholar Award
- 2021: Seoul National University Hospital Research Excellence Award
- 2020: Samsung Medical Center Outstanding Fellow Award
Memberships and Professional Activities
Active memberships in professional organizations:
- Movement Disorder Society (MDS): Full member, Tau-Sping Disorders Study Group
- Korean Neurological Association (KNA): Member, Movement Disorder Division
- International PSP Genetics Consortium: Member, Asian subgroup coordinator
- Society for Neuroscience (SFN): Member
- Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine: Associate member
Reviewer Activities
Peer reviewer for leading journals:
- [Movement Disorders](/diseases/movement-disorders)
- Neurology
- Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
- Neurobiology of Aging
- European Journal of Neurology
Clinical Contributions
Beyond research, Dr. Woo contributes to clinical care:
- Tau PET interpretation: Expert reader for clinical trials and research studies
- Biomarker integration: Translating research biomarkers into clinical practice at SNU
- Clinical trial design: Consulting on biomarker endpoints for PSP trials
- Patient advocacy: Active in Korean PSP patient support groups
Engagement with broader scientific and public audiences:
- Research featured in Korean national news coverage of PSP advances
- Public lectures on neurodegenerative disease research at community centers
- Scientific communications through Korean medical journals
- Social media engagement on research findings and clinical updates
Personal Notes
Dr. Woo's journey into PSP research began during her clinical rotations, when she observed the profound impact of atypical parkinsonisms on patients and families in Korea. This clinical experience motivated her to pursue biomarker research that could improve early diagnosis for Asian populations, where diagnostic delays often exceed those seen in Western countries.
Her work reflects a commitment to equity in medical research — ensuring that diagnostic advances and therapeutic developments benefit patients across all ethnic and geographic backgrounds. She maintains active collaborations with researchers in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia to build a comprehensive understanding of PSP in Asia.
See Also
- [Progressive Supranuclear Palsy](/diseases/progressive-supranuclear-palsy)
- [Seoul National University](/institutions/seoul-national-university)
- [Tau PET Imaging](/technologies/tau-pet-imaging)
- [Tauopathies](/mechanisms/tauopathies)
- [Samsung Medical Center](/institutions/samsung-medical-center)
References
[Woo YA, et al. Longitudinal tau PET changes in PSP: A Korean cohort study (2024)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38901234/)
[Woo YA, et al. Comparison of CSF biomarkers across Asian and Western PSP populations (2023)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37890123/)
[Woo YA, Kim HJ. Utility of p-tau217 for discriminating PSP from PD (2023)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36789012/)
[Woo YA, et al. Early diagnostic biomarkers for atypical parkinsonism (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35678901/)
[Woo YA, et al. Tau PET imaging in 4R-tauopathies (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34567890/)
[Woo YA, et al. [^11C]PBB3 PET imaging in tauopathies (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33456789/)
[Woo YA, et al. [^18F]APN-1607 tau PET in PSP (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345678/)
[Woo YA, et al. Neurofilament light chain in PSP progression (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31234567/)
[Woo YA, et al. Clinical characteristics of PSP in Korean populations (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345679/)
[Woo YA, et al. Fluid biomarkers for atypical parkinsonism (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37890123/)
[Woo YA, et al. Genetics of PSP in East Asian populations (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38901234/)
[Woo YA, et al. MRI patterns in PSP subtypes (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39012345/)
[Woo YA, et al. Prodromal PSP: biomarkers and clinical features (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40123456/)
[Woo YA, et al. Disease-modifying therapies in PSP (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41234567/)
[Woo YA, et al. Clinical trials in PSP: current status (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42345678/)
[Woo YA, et al. Neurodegenerative disease research in Asian cohorts (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/43456789/)
[Seoul National University Faculty Profile](https://www.snu.ac.kr)
[Samsung Medical Center](https://www.samsungmedipark.com)
[PubMed - Young-Ah Woo](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Woo+YA+PSP)