Division of Neurology

Consistently ranked a world leader, the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia boasts robust research programs investigating a variety of genetic and acquired neurologic conditions.

Integrated research programs partner the Division of Child Neurology with basic neuroscientists, developmental pediatrics, metabolic medicine, psychiatry, cardiology, critical pediatric and neonatal medicine, and adult neurology across Children’s Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania. Key research programs focus on leukodystrophies, Friedreich’s ataxia, epilepsy, fetal and neonatal neurology, neuromuscular disorders, cerebrovascular disease, multiple sclerosis and neuroinflammatory diseases, among others.

Several Centers of Excellence have been established. The Leukodystrophy Center of Excellence at CHOP, includes genetic research, natural history studies, first-in-human trials, and basic laboratory research. The epilepsy genetics and translational therapeutics research program involves genetic discovery, genetic database analyses, cell and animal models of novel epilepsy genes, natural history studies, pharmacogenetic discovery, and novel study designs and outcome measures for clinical trials.

CHOP Child Neurology is also involved in multiple clinical trials and innovative new therapies. The Neuromuscular section is actively enrolling in more than 12 clinical trials, remains engaged in the Phase 4 study of nusinersen (spinraza) and the gene therapy trial for spinal muscular atrophy.