Dr. Van Den Veyver begins her term as the president of International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis

Dr. Ignatia Barbara Van den Veyver, director of Prenatal and Reproductive Genetics clinics at Texas Children’s Hospital, Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, and researcher at the Neurological Research Institute is starting her term as President of the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis (ISPD) on September 1, 2016. Dr. Van den Veyver has served on the board of the ISPD for past six years, first four as Treasurer and the last two years as President-Elect. 

Dr. Van den Veyver is a physician scientist and an internationally renowned expert in prenatal genetics. Her research program is broadly focused on genetics and epigenetics of reproductive disorders. She focuses on X-linked childhood neurodevelopmental disorders such as the Aicardi syndrome. She is also interested in studying the link between prenatal exposures and autism in infants. She also collaborates with other investigators to develop and apply novel diagnostic methods for genetic disorders.

Established in 1996, the mission of the ISPD is to offer the best prenatal diagnosis and fetal care, with a large focus on prenatal genetics. More than 400 professionals from various disciplines, such as prenatal and perinatal care providers, medical geneticists, basic and translational scientists, genetic counselors, laboratory directors, ultrasonographers, and ethics professionals belong to this organization.

As President, Dr. Van den Veyver aims to grow the membership and international status and visibility of the ISPD through educational programs, to increase outreach to countries that are currently underrepresented in the field of prenatal diagnosis, and to develop new strategies for communicating with the public and stakeholders about prenatal diagnosis and screening related issues.