Prof. Athula Sumathipala, the founder of the Sri Lanka Twin Registry and one of the founding members of the Institute for Research & Development in Health and Social Care, Sri Lanka has been elected to the post of Secretary General of the International Association for Twin Research for the two years 2024 – 2025, a news release from the Institute said. Over 60 active twin research organizations and registries around the world are members of this association.
Sumathipala was elected to the post at the 18th International Twin Research Congress held in Budapest, Hungary from June 15th to 18th this year (2023). Under his leadership, the Sri Lankan Twin Registry has contributed a wealth of new knowledge to the field of scientific research, the release said.
Prof. Adam Domonkos Tarnoki from the Emmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary was elected as the President of the Twin Society. He is a twin himself is a founding member of the Hungarian Twin Registry. Prof. Nicholas Martin was elected to the post of treasurer. He is a Human Geneticist and founded the Australian Twin Registry. He is also the Editor of the journal of Twin and Genetic Research.
Another six leading twin researchers were elected to the council; Prof Nancy L. Segal is an American Evolutionary Psychologist and Behavioural Geneticist, specializing in the study of twins. Nancy Segal is the Professor of Developmental Psychology and Director of the Twin Studies Center, at California State University.
Asma Khalil is a Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine at St George’s University Hospital (University of London), Prof Jeffery Craig, Professor in Epigenetics and Cell Biology at Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, Prof. Petra Zwijnenburg, Medical Specialist, Human Genetics; Medical Specialist, ACS – Atherosclerosis & Ischemic Syndromes; Medical Specialist in Reproduction Medicine, Monica Rankin, Chairperson, International Council of Multiple Birth Organisations, Melbourne, Australia.It has also been decided to hold the International Twin Research Congress in 2025 in Sri Lanka, the release said.