Showcasing global expertise: Children’s National at the 2025 Pediatric Neuroscience Conference in Qatar

In early November, experts from the Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine Center at Children’s National Hospital traveled to Doha, Qatar, to participate in the 5th Annual Pediatric Neuroscience Conference, presented by Sidra Medicine. This marks the second year of partnership between Children’s National and Sidra Medicine for this premier international event.

The annual conference brings together leading clinicians, researchers and innovators from across Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuro-critical Care, Neurogenetics and Neuroradiology to share the latest insights driving the future of pediatric neuroscience. This year’s program explored the epidemiology and mechanisms of neurological diseases, cutting-edge clinical trials, AI innovations and new models of integrated, high-impact care.

Elizabeth Wells, MD, senior vice president of the Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine Center at Children’s National and a member of the conference’s Scientific Committee, highlighted the continued impact of this international partnership. “By training and supporting physicians and allied health staff across the region, we’re expanding access to quality care close to home,” said Dr. Wells. “But when children require complex interventions or innovative treatments that aren’t available locally, Children’s National is ready to provide that next level of care. We’re proud to serve both as a partner in strengthening regional capacity and as a global leader in the most advanced pediatric neuroscience therapies.”

“It was a great pleasure to partner once again with Children’s National for this year’s Pediatric Neuroscience Conference,” said Ruba Benini, FRCPSC, MD, PhD, medical director of the Neurodiagnostic Laboratory at Sidra Medicine. “Their high-caliber speakers and the depth of experience they brought to the conference added tremendous value, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future.”

Children’s National brought the largest contingent of external speakers to this year’s meeting, presenting across multiple high-visibility sessions:

Scientific Sessions & Presentations

SESSION II: Neuro-Immunology

• Elizabeth Wells, MD — Autoimmune Encephalitis – Updates on Diagnosis & Treatment

SESSION III: Neuro-Oncology

• Elizabeth Wells, MD — Session Moderator
• Robert Keating, MD — Latest Advances in Non-Invasive Focused Ultrasound Treatment for Brain Tumors

SESSION IV: Neurogenetics and Precision Medicine in Neurological Disorders

• Sarah Wright, MD — Progress and Innovations in Clinical Trials for Neuromuscular Diseases
• William D. Gaillard, MD — Developments in Epilepsy Clinical Trials: Emerging Therapies and Technologies

SESSION V: Epilepsy Symposium

• William D. Gaillard, MD — Epilepsy Surgery: Patient Selection, Evaluation and Outcomes
• Chima Oluigbo, MD — Advances in Epilepsy Surgery: Options and Procedures
• Adelaide Robb, MD — Neuropsychiatric Co-Morbidities in Pediatric Epilepsy

SESSION VI: Complex Neurosurgical Procedures

• Robert Keating, MD — Two Decades of Experience With Chiari Malformations: Where Are We Today?

SESSION VII: Artificial Intelligence and Cutting-Edge Research in Neuroscience

• Chima Oluigbo, MD — Artificial Intelligence in Neurosurgery: Transforming Diagnosis, Treatment, and Patient Outcomes

Following the conference, Dr. Adelaide Robb and Dr. William D. Gaillard presented Grand Rounds for the psychiatry and neurology departments at Sidra Medicine, further strengthening the educational and clinical collaboration between institutions.

“Our work in the Gulf is rooted in a simple belief: every child deserves access to cutting-edge care and the hope it brings,” says Karen Smith, MD, executive medical director of Global Services at Children’s National. “By partnering with hospitals and government leaders across the region, we’re not only sharing expertise—we’re building sustainable systems that empower communities and transform outcomes for children for years to come.”

To learn more about the Pediatric Neuroscience Conference, visit the conference website.