Neurology

Our experts in pediatric neurology explore all possible treatment options, beginning with conservative, non-invasive methods before considering neurosurgical procedures. Dr. Husam Kayyali leads the Neurology Division and is also the Director of our Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Our team of Pediatric Neurologists are highly specialized in different aspects of pediatric neurology including neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders, neurocutaneous disorders, headache disorders and neuro immunology.

In collaboration with the Global Patient Services team at Sidra Medicine, we provide excellent care for our international patients. We are committed to helping patients and family members with every step of the planning in a culturally sensitive manner. To request for an appointment from overseas, please email international.services@sidra.org

Some neurological disorders we treat at Sidra Medicine include:

• Seizures
• Complex epilepsy
• Muscular dystrophy and muscle diseases
• Autoimmune disorders of the brain and peripheral nervous system
• Guillian Barre syndrome
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Movement disorders
• Ataxia
• Concussion
• Sleep disorders
• Spasticity and cerebral palsy
• Neurofibromatosis
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Headaches
• Stroke

Sidra Medicine prioritizes patient safety and clinical excellence in all treatments provided at our Gene Therapy Clinic, including those with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. Following recent guidance from Roche Pharmaceuticals, Elevidys is not recommended for DMD patients who are non-ambulatory, due to rare complications reported internationally. At Sidra Medicine, Elevidys has only been administered to carefully selected patients who met strict eligibility criteria, including approved age and weight ranges. Each case was evaluated thoroughly by our expert clinical teams, with treatments provided in sterile, controlled environments and the highest safety standards.

To date, eight patients have received Elevidys at Sidra Medicine. All eight patients are doing well and continue to be closely monitored by our specialist teams. We maintain regular follow-up care, including blood and liver function tests and health assessments, in close collaboration with Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and global health authorities. At Sidra Medicine, we will continue to offer Elevidys treatment to ambulatory DMD patients only, who meet all eligibility criteria, including age and weight. Our Gene Therapy Clinic remains dedicated to providing safe and effective gene therapies for eligible ambulatory DMD patients, following the latest clinical guidelines and manufacturer recommendations. To speak to the gene therapy team or for more information, please email: genetherapyteam@sidra.org.

Our Programs

At Sidra Medicine, we believe in multidisciplinary approach that would provide efficient, quality care for our patients. When dealing with complex medical problems, providing access to a team of experts who work together in harmony is the best way to assure that we meet our patients’ needs and expectations. For these reasons, we developed a number of highly specialized programs in Neurology to address the most complex neurological disorders:

• Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
• Epilepsy Surgery Program
• Tuberous Sclerosis Multidisciplinary Clinic
• Neuromuscular Multidisciplinary Clinic
• Movement Disorders Multidisciplinary Clinic
• Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Multidisciplinary Clinic
• Complex Care Multidisciplinary Clinic

Fellowship and Training

We have a well-structured ACGME-I accredited Pediatric Neurology Fellowship Program. Directed by Dr. Ruba Benini and sponsored by our team of experts, this 3-year fellowship program thrives to train and educate the next generations of Pediatric Neurologists. During their training, fellows receive a rich exposure to both inpatient and outpatient child neurology and are actively involved in research activities. To learn more on how to apply, please contact the Graduate Medical Education or send an email to PediatricNeurology@sidra.org

Research and Innovation

The Neurology Division at Sidra Medicine is actively involved in many research projects covering different aspects of Pediatric Neurology, with both local and international research collaborations. The main research interests of the group have revolved around the study of epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders (including gene therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy) and neurogenetic diseases. To see examples of our research publications, please click here.