Prof. LEE Yong Gun
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Prof. LEE Yong Gun
Prof. LEE Yong Gun
Assistant Professor
yglee@hku.hk
(852) 3917 1185
CJT-506
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Biography

Yong Gun Lee (YG) is a Registered Social Worker and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration. His scholarship centers on advancing health equity for socially and structurally marginalized communities. His current research with sexual minority men in Indonesia and Kazakhstan investigates how psychosocial and digital factors—such as stigma and AI—influence their engagement in the HIV care cascades (including testing, treatment, and prevention). This work is grounded in a critical examination of human subjects research practices, ensuring they uphold ethical principles and promote equitable partnerships.

Selected Publications
  • Lee, Y. G., Vinogradov, V., Mergenova, G., Paine, E. A., Laughney, C. I., Reeder, K., Davis, A., Primbetova, S., Terlikbayeva, A., & Wu, E. (2025). COVID-19-related diminished peer HIV communication intentions among sexual and gender expansive individuals in Kazakhstan. Health Education & Behavior, 0(0). DOI: 10.1177/10901981251362813
  • Vinogradov, V., Lee, Y. G. (corresponding author), Zhakupova, G., Mergenova, G., Davis, A., Paine, E. A., Reeder, K., Laughney, C. I., Sung, J., Primbetova, S., Terlikbayeva, A., Sugarman, J., & Wu, E. (2025). Social impacts of multi-city HIV prevention research participation among sexual minority and gender expansive individuals in Kazakhstan. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 99, 239-247. DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000003654
  • Robles, G., Lee, Y. G., Hillesheim, J., Brusche, D., Lopez-Matos, J., Cain, D., & Starks, T. J. (2024). Peer social support moderates the impact of ethnoracial discrimination on mental health among young sexual minority men of color. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 41, 2455-2477. DOI: 10.1177/02654075241245735
  • Lee, Y. G., Alessi, E. J., Lynn, M., Starks, T. J., & Robles, G. (2023). Everyday discrimination and HIV testing among partnered Latino/x sexual minority men in the United States: A stratified analysis by birth location. AIDS Education and Prevention, 35, 376-389. DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2023.35.5.376
  • Wu, E., Lee, Y. G., Vinogradov, V., Kali, S., Yelkeyev, A., Goddard-Eckrich, D. A., Dasgupta, A., & Hess, L. (2023). Intervention adaptation and implementation method for real-world constraints and using new technologies. Research on Social Work Practice, 33, 562–570. DOI: 10.1177/10497315221120605
  • Lee, Y. G., Zhakupova, G., Vinogradov, V., Paine, E. A., Laughney, C. I., Reeder, K., Davis, A., Hunt, T., Mergenova, G., Primbetova, S., Terlikbayeva, A., & Wu, E. (2022). Polydrug use, sexual risk, and HIV testing among cisgender gay, bisexual, and other men and transgender and nonbinary individuals who have sex with men in Kazakhstan. AIDS Education and Prevention, 34, 413-426. DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2022.34.5.413
Externally Funded Research
  • Mapping the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Care Continuum Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Use Drugs (MSM-UD) in Kazakhstan: A Mixed Methods Study. Early Career Scheme, Research Grants Council, PI
  • Prompting to Test: A Pilot Study of a Generative Conversational AI Intervention to Boost Readiness for Routine HIV Testing Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Indonesia. Knowledge Exchange Impact Project Scheme, HKU, PI
  • Exploring Unmet Service Needs Across the HIV Prevention and Care Cascades Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Indonesia. Seed Fund for Basic Research for New Staff, HKU, PI