Children’s National Hospital designated Pediatric Center of Excellence in Rare Neuroimmune Disorders
Children’s National Hospital’s Neuroimmunology Program has been named a Pediatric Center of Excellence in Rare Neuroimmune Disorders by the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association.
The Neuroimmunology Program at Children’s National Hospital has been recognized by the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association (SRNA) as a Pediatric Center of Excellence in Rare Neuroimmune Disorders (CERND). This designation highlights the program’s expertise in caring for children with complex neuroimmune conditions and its commitment to advancing research and education in the field.
The program is led by Elizabeth Wells, MD, Senior vice president of the Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine Center, Alexandra Kornbluh, MD, director of Neuroimmunology Investigational Therapeutics, and Ilana Kahn, MD, clinical director of Neuroimmunology. Together, they oversee a multidisciplinary team providing state-of-the-art diagnosis, treatment and long-term management for children with antibody-mediated autoimmune encephalitis (AE), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), febrile infection related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES), multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome (OMAS), transverse myelitis (TM), optic neuritis (ON), primary CNS vasculitis and other central nervous system demyelinating and inflammatory conditions.
As a designated CERND, Children’s National offers:
- Expert-led care: Specialists at the forefront of clinical practice and research.
- Comprehensive services: Coordinated care across neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology, psychiatry, psychology, neuroradiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, critical care, social work, pharmacy and speech therapy.
- Research opportunities: Access to clinical trials and studies that drive progress in therapies and patient outcomes.
In addition to delivering high-quality clinical care, the program partners with SRNA to expand educational resources for patients, families and clinicians. Its work aligns with SRNA’s broader objectives to strengthen the CERND network, support innovative research and improve both acute therapies and long-term management strategies for rare neuroimmune disorders.
