Neurology


University Pediatricians | Michigan

About the Division of Neurology

We are a group of child neurologists and nurse practitioners who provide evidence-based, empathetic, thoughtful and high-quality care to children with neurological conditions. We share collegial relationships with other specialists at CHM and our neurosurgical colleagues, which allows us to work collaboratively in complex clinical situations. We have access to cutting edge imaging including 3-T MRI, PET scanners, low-radiation CTs and work closely with highly trained pediatric neuroradiologists. Our physicians are contributors to peer-reviewed medical journals, board-certified in several sub-specialties within chid neurology and active in academic medicine.


The Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery programs at Children’s Hospital Michigan have been ranked among the nation’s Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News and World Report for the last 10 years. The Division has faculty expertise across the spectrum of child neurology including epilepsy, autism, neurogenetics, neuroimaging and neuromuscular disease. Children’s Hospital of Michigan is recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, the highest designation, which recognizes expertise in the medical and surgical evaluation and treatment of patients with complex seizure disorders.


Our pediatric neurology specialists work in close collaboration with Children' Hospital of Michigan pediatric neurosurgeons as well as primary care physicians, pediatric radiologist, intensivists and other appropriate specialists. Care is multidisciplinary, collaborative and family centered. The pediatric neurology program is supported by advanced neuroimaging, which is vital for accurate diagnosis and precise treatment of pediatric neurological diseases.


Leadership

Directed by Dr. Lalitha Sivaswamy, the Pediatric Neurology division consists of ten fellowship trained child neurologists, four specialized Nurse Practitioners and six specialized Nurses. The division is actively involved in research and in 2020, the physicians published over 20 papers in peer reviewed journals.

 

All child neurologists have faculty appointments at Central Michigan University School of Medicine and are actively involved in teaching medical students, residents and fellows. Our ACGME approved child neurology residency program trains 2-3 residents per year.

More About the Neurology Residency Program→

Child Neurology Specialized Clinical Programs

  • Epilepsy/Seizures Disorders:

    New seizure patients are seen expeditiously by one of four board-certified pediatric epilepsy specialist supported by our pediatric neurologist team or a general pediatric neurologist. Neurodiagnostic studies such as EEGs, including overnight epilepsy monitoring unit studies, are offered at our Detroit and Troy locations. A dietitian oversees the care of children requiring a ketogenic diet. Interventions beyond pharmacological treatment include, when appropriate, vagal nerve stimulator; highly specialized, sophisticated epilepsy surgery is available for selected patients with refractory seizures. The Children’s Hospital of Michigan performs approximately 25 epilepsy surgeries per year – a collaboration with our pediatric neurosurgery colleagues. The Division offers advanced genetic diagnostic services, increasingly relevant in the evaluation of children with complex seizure disorders.

  • Headache Clinic:

    This program evaluates and treats children with all varieties of headache disorders, including migraine. Innovative treatments include Botox injections, monoclonal antibody therapy and, in selective cases, neurostimulatory devices. Division Chief Dr. Sivaswamy is board-certified in pediatric headache.

  • Concussion Clinic:

    This multidisciplinary clinic includes a pediatric neurologist, neuropsychologist and nurse coordinator. Patients are seen soon after sustaining concussion and a rehabilitation plan, including appropriate return to school, sport and full activities, is emphasized.

  • Sleep Disorders Clinic:

    We run a comprehensive sleep laboratory and can diagnose and treat sleep related disorders of childhood. Patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea, behavioral insomnia and narcolepsy are evaluated. Overnight sleep studies are performed at our Specialty Center - Detroit and Children's Hospital of Michigan - Troy campuses.

  • Muscular Dystrophy Clinic:

    The Muscular Dystrophy Association clinic is a multi-disciplinary program which includes child neurology, pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation, occupational and physical therapy, dietary medicine and neuropsychology. Children with suspected or confirmed neuromuscular disorders of all varieties are seen in this clinic.

  • Other Specialized Clinics:

    A variety of other specialized clinics are available for children and adolescents including:

    • Multiple Sclerosis/Demyelinating and Autoimmune Disorders Clinic - a comprehensive center that specializes in diagnosing and treating pediatric demyelinating and autoimmune disorders involving the brain and nervous system.
    • Autism Clinic - specialists on staff provide evaluation and multi-disciplinary treatment for children and support for families affected by autism.
    • Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic - Children's Hospital of Michigan is one of only a few Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance recognized clinics in the county and the only one in metro Detroit.
    • Brachial Plexus Clinic - a multidisciplinary clinic that specializes in the care of infants and children with brachial plexus injuries.

Child Neurology services are provided at multiple Children's Hospital of Michigan Specialty Center locations that are convenient to your patients including:

 

Specialty Center - Canton

45250 Cherry Hill Rd., Canton, MI 48187

 

Stilson Specialty Center - Clinton Township

42700 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038

 

Specialty Center - Dearborn

25325 Ford Rd., Dearborn, MI 48128

 

Specialty Center Detroit

3950 Beaubien, Detroit, MI 48201

 

Alex J. Etkin Specialty Center - Southfield

29120 Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI 48034

 

Children's Hospital of Michigan - Troy

350 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48084

 

Patients can make an appointment with a Pediatric Neurologist by calling (313) 832-9620.

 

All MRI studies, with or without sedation, are offered at our Detroit and Troy locations and all studies are interpreted by a fellowship-trained pediatric neuroradiologists.


Faculty

Want to learn more about our distinguished specialists? Click the button below to be taken to our Faculty Directory.

Faculty Directory →

Research

Recent Faculty Publications

  • Norimitsu Kuwabara, MD

    • Pediatric Epilepsy; In Textbook of Symptom-Based Approach to Pediatric Neurology. Kuwabara N, James Wheless. Springer Nature, to be published in October 2021.
  • Aimee Luat, MD

    • Mitsuhashi T, Sonoda M, Iwaki H, Luat AF, Sood S, Asano E. Effects of depth electrode montage and single-pulse electric stimulation sites on neuronal responses and effective connectivity. Clin Neurophysiol 2020; 131:2781-2792. 
    • Felippe B, Abushama A, Morrison-Levy N, Puneet J, Vinayan KP, Abudkhalid, M, Aldhalaan H, Almuzaini H, Sheffali G, Hershkovitz T, Konanki R, Lingappa L, Luat AF, Shafi S, Tabarki B, Thomas M, Yoganathan S, Alfadhel M, Arya R, Donner E, Ehaideb S, Gowda V, Jain V, Madaan P, Myers K, Otsubo H, Panda P, Sahu JK, Sampaio L, Sharma S, Tremblay E, Zak M, Whitney R. KCNT1-related epilepsy: An international multicenter cohort of 27 pediatric cases. Epilepsia 2020; March 13. Doi: 10.1111/epi.16480. 
    • Sood, S, Asano E, Luat AF. Minimizing blood loss in hemispherectomy for hemimegalencephaly in low-weight infants: technical note. Child’s Nervous System 2020 April; 36 (4): 841-845. doi: 10.1007/s00381-020-04534-5. 
  • Naznin Mahmood, MD

    • Co-Authored "Chronic Headaches in Children" chapter with Lalitha Sivaswamy MD in the book "Symptom Based Approach to Pediatric Neurology”—coeditors Dr. Lalitha Sivaswamy & Dr. Deepak Kamat.
  • Lalitha Sivaswamy, MD

    • Diagnosing Pseudotumor Cerebri: An Age-based Approach. Tuhina Govil-Dalela, Lalitha Sivaswamy. Pediatr Neurol Briefs. 2020; 34: 19. Published online 2020 Dec 18. doi: 10.15844/pedneurbriefs-34-19 PMCID: PMC7747552 ArticlePubReaderPDF–139KCitation Select item 7718100 
    • Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Mitchell T. Williams, Lalitha Sivaswamy. Pediatr Neurol Briefs. 2020; 34: 14. Published online 2020 Dec 4. doi: 10.15844/pedneurbriefs-34-14 PMCID: PMC7718100 ArticlePubReaderPDF–138KCitation 
    • A Teenager With Facial Numbness. Mandle Q, Kannikeswaran S, Surapaneni M, Sivaswamy L. Pediatr Neurol. 2020 Mar;104:68-69. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.07.002. Epub 2019 Jul 17.PMID: 31409503 No abstract available. 
    • Rapid Sequence MRI Protocol in the Evaluation of Pediatric Brain Attacks. De Jong G, Kannikeswaran N, DeLaroche A, Farooqi A, Sivaswamy L. Pediatr Neurol. 2020 Jun;107:77-83. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.12.007. Epub 2019 Dec 27. PMID: 32111563 
  • Daniela Tapos, MD

    • Paroxysmal dyskinesias and developmental delay: How a detailed history and fasting EEG revealed the diagnosis." by Imtiaz, Hassan; Weber, Amanda; Can, Afra; Tapos, Daniela

Recent Faculty Publications - Neurology PET Center

  • Eishi Asano, MD

    • Banerjee S, Dong M, Lee MH, O’Hara N*, Juhasz C, Asano E, Jeong JW. Deep relational reasoning for the prediction of language impairment and postoperative seizure outcome using preoperative DWI connectome data of children with focal epilepsy. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 2020. doi: 10.1109/TMI.2020.3036933. (Role: data acquisition; data analysis; critical revision of the manuscript). 
    • Manwar R, Li X, Mahmoodkalayeh S, Asano E, Zhu D, Avanaki K. Deep learning protocol for improved photoacoustic brain imaging. J Biophotonics 2020. doi: 10.1002/jbio.202000212. (Role: Providing the clinical expertise and critical revision of the manuscript). 
    • Mitsuhashi T*, Sonoda M*, Iwaki H*, Luat AF, Sood S, Asano E. Effects of montage and stimulus sites on neuronal responses to single-pulse electrical stimulation on depth electrode recording. Clin Neurophysiol 2020;131:2781-2792. (Featured as the cover figure; Role: Corresponding author). 
    • Yin Q*, Johnson EL*, Tang L*, Auguste KI, Knight RT, Asano E, Ofen N. Direct brain recordings reveal occipital cortex involvement in memory development. Neuropsychologia 2020;148:107625. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107625. (Role: study concept and design; data acquisition; data analysis; critical revision of the manuscript) 
    • Nariai H*, Hussain SA, Bernardo D, Motoi H*, Sonoda M*, Kuroda N*, Asano E, Nguyen JC, Elashoff D, Sankar R, Bragin A, Staba RJ, Wu JY. Scalp EEG interictal high frequency oscillations as an objective EEG biomarker of infantile spasms. Clin Neurophysiol 2020;131:2527-2536. (Role: data analysis; critical revision of the manuscript). 
    • Sugiura A*, Alqatan Z*, Nakai Y*, Kambara T*, Silverstein BH*, Asano E. Neural dynamics during the vocalization of ‘uh’ or ‘um’. Sci Rep 2020;10:11987. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68606-x (Role: Corresponding author). 
    • Banerjee S, Dong M, Lee MH, O’Hara N*, Asano E, Jeong JW. Prediction of language impairment using deep relational reasoning. Proc IEEE Int Symp Biomed Imaging 2020. doi: 10.1109/ISBI45749.2020.9098712. (Role: data acquisition; data analysis; critical revision of the manuscript). 
    • Silverstein BH*, Asano E. Dynamic tractography: integrating cortico-cortical evoked potentials and diffusion imaging. Neuroimage 2020;215:116763. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116763. (Featured as the cover figure; Role: study concept and design; data acquisition; data analysis; critical revision of the manuscript)
    • Sugiura A*, Sonoda M*, Lee MH, Jeong JW, Lee MH, O’Hara N*, Sonoda M*, Kuroda N*, Juhasz C, Asano E, Dong M, Jeong JW. Novel deep learning network analysis of electrical stimulation mapping-driven diffusion MRI tractography to improve preoperative evaluation of pediatric epilepsy. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 2020;67:3151-3162. (Role: data acquisition; data analysis; critical revision of the manuscript). 
    • Sood S, Asano E, Luat A. Minimizing blood loss in hemispherectomy for hemimegalencephaly in low weight infants - technical note. Child Nerv Syst 2020;36:841-845. (Role: data acquisition; data analysis; critical revision of the manuscript) 
    • Sugiura A*, Silverstein BH*, Jeong JW, Nakai Y*, Sonoda M*, Motoi H*, Asano E. Four-dimensional map of direct effective connectivity from posterior visual areas. Neuroimage 2020;210:116548. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116548. (Role: Corresponding author). 

Recent Faculty Abstracts/Presentations (National)

  • Norimitsu Kuwabara, MD

    • “Infantile Botulism”, presented at pediatric neurology resident noon conference in April 2020 
    • “Neuro-infectious disease”, presented at pediatric neurology resident noon conference in June 2020
    • “Physiologic basics of EEG”, presented at pediatric neurology resident noon conference, September 2020 
    • “Recent inpatient cases”, presented at pediatric neurology resident noon conference, November 2020
  • Aimee Luat, MD

    • Ono H, Sonoda M, Sonoda K, Kubota T, Luat A, Sood S, Asano E. Four-dimensional atlas of saccadic suppression in the human brain. Annual American Epilepsy Society Meeting 2020 on Dec. 4 to 8, 2020. 
    • Mitsuhashi T, Sonoda M, Iwaki H, Luat A. Sood S, Asano E. Four-dimensional tractography to animate the interhemispheric effective connectivity. Annual American Epilepsy Society Meeting 2020 on Dec. 4 to 8, 2020. 
    • Kuroda N, Sonoda M, Motoi H, Nariai H, Luat A, Asano A. High-frequency oscillation and phase-amplitude coupling equally improve the prediction of epilepsy surgery outcome. Annual American Epilepsy Society Meeting 2020 on Dec. 4 to 8, 2020. 
    • Sonoda M, Silverstein B, Jeong J, Sugiura A, Nakai Y, Rothermel R, Luat A, Sood S, Asano E. A novel four-dimensional tractography reveals the development of dynamic effective connectivity supporting specific stages of linguistic processing. Annual American Epilepsy Society Meeting 2020 on Dec. 4 to 8, 2020. 
    • Dombkowski D, Cukovic D, Sundaram S, Luat A. Altered T-cell clone diversity is associated with successful response to Acthar Gel treatment in infantile spasm patients. Annual American Epilepsy Society Meeting 2020 on Dec. 4 to 8, 2020.
    • High-Frequency Oscillation Defined by Four Different Detectors Equally Improves the Prediction of Postoperative Seizure Outcome
  • Lalitha Sivaswamy, MD

    • Grand rounds at University of Texas Southwest Medical Center 11/2020 

    Topic: Unusual Headache Syndromes in Children

  • Amanda Weber, DO

    • Sonowal P, Weber ARB. To Enhance Screening for Depression in Adolescents with Epilepsy through use of a Standardized Depression Screening tool in the Neurology outpatient clinics. Annual Detroit Medical Center (DMC) Quality Education and Safe Systems Training (QuESST) Graduate Medical Education Research Day competition. April 2020. Detroit, MI. Virtual due to COVID. 
    • Kanna A, Weber ARB. Quality Improvement Measures to Increased Awareness on Folic Acid Supplementation in Adolescent Females with Epilepsy. Annual Detroit Medical Center (DMC) Quality Education and Safe Systems Training (QuESST) Graduate Medical Education Research Day competition. April 2020. Detroit, MI. Virtual due to COVID. 
    • Chat with the Specialist: Seizures in Childhood Presentation to DMC and surrounding area Pediatricians Detroit, MI July 2020 
    • Introduction to Quality Improvement Presentation to Neurology Department, Children’s Hospital of Michigan Detroit, MI July 2020 
    • Neonatal EEG Review Neurology EEG Review Session, Children’s Hospital of MI Detroit, MI November 2020 

Recent Faculty Abstracts/Presentations - Neurology PET Center (National)

  • Eishi Asano, MD

    • Johnson EL, Yin Q, Tang L, Asano E, Ofen N. Age-related double dissociation of fast and slow theta oscillations in children and adolescents. Neuromatch 3.0. October 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Yin Q, Johnson EL, Tang L, Auguste KI, Knight RT, Asano E, Ofen N. Direct brain recordings reveal occipital cortex involvement in memory development. Neuromatch 3.0. October 2020. [Virtual meeting]
    • Kuroda K, Sonoda M, Motoi H, Nariai H, Luat AF, Sood S, Asano E. High-frequency oscillation and phase-amplitude coupling equally improve the prediction of epilepsy surgery outcome. Presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Seattle, WA, December 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • O'Hara NB, Asano E, Juhasz C, Lee MH, Jeong JW. Intracranial propagation trajectories of ictal 
    • fast waves and interictal spikes in patients with epileptic spasms. Presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Seattle, WA, December 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Jeong JW, Lee MH, O’Hara N, Sonoda M, Juhasz C, Asano E. Deep learning of multi-modal MRI improves the localization of seizure onset zone in children with focal epilepsy. Presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Seattle, WA, December 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Latif S, Iwaki H, Asano E. Interviewing as a tool to increase social media engagement with research in clinical neurophysiology. Presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Seattle, WA, December 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Sonoda M, Silverstein BH, Jeong JW, Sugiura A, Nakai Y, Rothermel R, Luat AF, Sood S, Asano E. A novel four-dimensional tractography reveals the development of dynamic effective connectivity supporting specific stages of linguistic processing. Presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Seattle, WA, December 2020. [Virtual meeting] Selected for the AES2020 Jack M. Pellock Award at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, December 2020; the sole awardee selected from over 1100 submissions.
    • Iwaki H, Sonoda M, Osawa S, Silverstein BH, Ukishiro K, Takayama Y, Kambara T, Kakinuma K, Suzuki K, Tominaga T, Nakasato N, Iwasaki M, Asano E. Your verbal questions beginning with 'what' will rapidly suppress the left prefrontal cortex of listeners. Presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Seattle, WA, December 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Mitsuhashi T, Sonoda M, Iwaki H, Luat AF, Sood S, Asano E. Four-dimensional tractography to animate the interhemispheric effective connectivity. Presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Seattle, WA, December 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Ono H, Sonoda M, Silverstein BH, Sonoda K, Kubota T, Luat AF, Sood S, Asano E. Fourdimensional atlas of saccadic suppression in the human brain. Presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Seattle, WA, December 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Kumar A, Muzik O, Luat A, Asano E, Intikhab O, Malkawi I, Rangunwala J, Sood S, Juhasz C, Chugani HT. Experience from 223 C-11-PK11195 Brain Positron Emission Tomography (PK PET) in Both Pediatric and Adult Population will be Used to Emphasize the Feasibility and Usefulness of PK PET in the Evaluation and Management of Neuroinflammation. Presented at the 106th Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, Chicago, IL, November and December, 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Dombkowski A, Cukovic D, Ukasic D, Doyon-Real N, Asano E, Jena BP, Chugani H, Stemmer P, Chugani D, Luat A. Exosomes secreted from epileptogenic TSC tubers carry proteins associated with vesicle-mediated transport and seizures. Presented at the 1st North American Epilepsy Congress, Toronto, ON, September 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Lee MH, O'Hara N, Juhasz C, Asano E, Jeong JW. Deep learning of electrical stimulation mapping-driven diffusion tractography to improve preoperative evaluation of pediatric epilepsy surgery. Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Sydney, Australia, August 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Jeong JW, Lee MH, O'Hara N, Asano E, Juhasz C. Deep convolution neural network-based connectome analysis to predict language improvement after pediatric epilepsy surgery. Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Sydney, Australia, August 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Rau E, Johnson EL, Heinen R, Asano E, Ofen N, Axmacher N. Electrophysiological dynamics of visual scene representations in children and adolescents. Accepted for the presentation at the Single Units and Human intracranial (SUsHi) conference, Birmingham, UK, April 2020. [Conference cancelled] 
    • Banerjee S, Dong M, Lee MH, O’Hara N, Asano E, Jeong JW. Prediction of language impairment using deep relational reasoning. Presented at the 2020 IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging, Iowa City, IA, April 2020. [Virtual meeting] 

Recent Faculty Grants

  • Lalitha Sivaswamy, MD

    Ongoing grant from CHM Foundation re use of mRNA to study children with concussion. Co PI with Dr Sethuraman. 

  • Aimee Luat, MD

    Role: Co-Investigator; Percent Effort: 5%; U54 NS065705 

    (PI: H. Kim – UCSF; WSU PI: C. Juhász) 

    Title: “Integrated longitudinal studies to identify biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for Sturge-Weber syndrome” (NIH Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium) 

    8/15/19 – 6/30/24 

    Source: NIH/NINDS 

    The major goal of this study is to collect and analyze multicenter clinical, blood, and imaging data from patients with SWS in order to identify potential biomarkers associated with clinical phenotypes. 

    Total Direct Cost: $450,000 


    Role: Principal Investigator, Percent Effort: 5% R1-2018-06 

    Title: “Improved detection of pediatric epileptic foci by molecular imaging of neuroinflammation”. 

    Source: Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation 

    Grant Period: January 1 to December 31, 2021 

    Total Direct Cost: $58, 450.00. 


    Role: Co-investigator, no salary requested 

    Title: “Genetic variants of the innate immune system associated with epilepsy in malformations of cortical development”. 

    Source: NIH/NINDS 

    Grant Period: Nov 1, 2018 to April 30, 2020 

    Total Direct Cost: $68,140.00. 


    Role: Principal Investigator Percent Effort: 2% H98MC26257 

    Principal Investigator: Aimee F. Luat, M.D. 

    Title: “Telemedicine and Epilepsy.” 

    Multicenter project across the state of Michigan with primary site at Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, 

    Source: U.S. Department of Health Resources and Human Services Administration. 

    Grant Period: October 1, 2019 to 9/2023 

    Total direct cost: $35,715 or $15,000 each year for 4 years (2019-2023). 

    Total grant is $416,000. Total amount awarded to CHM/CMU is $15,000 


    Role: Co-Investigator, Percent Effort: 3% RO1 NS41922 

    Principal Investigator: Csaba Juhasz, M.D., PhD. 

    Title: “Longitudinal neuroimaging in Sturge Weber Syndrome.” 

    The major goal of this project is to identify neuroimaging markers, which may be used as diagnostic predictors of clinical progression of Sturge Weber Syndrome. 

    Source: National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). 

    Grant Period: March 01, 2020 to February 28, 2025 

    Total Direct Costs: $2,4500,000. 


    Co-Investigator, 10% effort 

    Principal Investigator: Alan Dombkowski, PhD 

    Title: “Biomarkers to characterize subtypes of neuroinflammation in infantile spasms and responsiveness to ACTH” 

    Source: Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Grant Period: 03/01/18-2/28/20 

    Total Direct costs: $252,000


    Clinical Trial

    Title: An Open-Label Extension Trial to Assess the Long-Term Safety Of ZX008 (Fenfluramine Hydrochloride) Oral Solution as an Adjunctive Therapy in Children and Young Adults with Dravet Syndrome. Protocol no. Zogenix 1503 Period: 3/19/2018 to 3/18/2021 

    Total Direct Costs: $ 78,060.

Recent Faculty Grants - Neurology PET Center

  • Eishi Asano, MD

    Title: Software and Hardware Development for Epileptic Seizure Prediction using Deep Learning Techniques. Agency: Wayne State University Summer 2020 Richard Barber Interdisciplinary Research Program (intramural grant). PI: Mohammad Alhawari, PhD. Co-PI: Eishi Asano, MD, PhD. Direct cost: $35,000. Major goal: The major goal of the project is to design an energy-efficient, accurate, and low-cost automated epilepsy prediction system using intracranial EEG (iEEG) and based on deep learning methods. May 2020-April 2021.


    Title: Development of language systems in the human brain. Agency: Wayne State University Grants Boost Program (intramural grant). Application number: 19-1606. PI: Eishi Asano, MD, PhD. Direct cost: $35,000. Major goal: The major goal of the project is to build the first comprehensive model of the maturational changes in language network dynamics that support normative development of proficiency in naming. September 2019-September 2020. 


    - Title: 3D neonatal photoacoustic tomography (3D-NPAT) to detect hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in preterm neonates. Agency: National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Application #: R01EB028661. [PI: Kamran Avanaki, PhD] My role: CoInvestigator (for providing my clinical expertise). Effort: 0.5 months (4.2%). Direct cost: $1,066,792. The major goal is to determine the potential utility of transfontanelle photoacoustic imaging in detection of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in preterm neonates. Sep 2019 to Sep 2021 


    Title: The role of non-coding RNAs in epilepsy of tuberous sclerosis complex and focal cortical dysplasia type 2B. Agency: National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Application #: R56. NS079429. [PI: Alan Dombkowski, PhD] My role: Co-Investigator (for EEG data acquisition and analysis) Effort: 5%. Total amount: $350,000. The goal of this research is to identify non-coding RNAs associated with epileptogenesis in malformations of cortical development. Aug 2019 to Jul 2020 


    Title: Transfontanelle photoacoustic imaging to study pathophysiology of neonatal brain injury. Agency: National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). Application #: R01EB027769. [PI: Kamran Avanaki, PhD] My role: CoInvestigator (for providing my clinical expertise). Effort: 0.2 months (1.7%). Direct cost: $1,523,204. Major goal: The major goal is to develop a novel imaging method, referred to as transfontanelle photoacoustic imaging, for accurate detection of neonatal brain injury. Apr 2019 to Dec 2022. 


    Title: Development of memory networks in children. Agency: National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Application #: R01MH107512. [PI: Noa Ofen, PhD] My role: Co-Investigator (for acquisition and analysis of electrocorticography data). Effort: 1.2 months (10%). Direct cost: $1,275,415. Major goal: The major goal of this project is to localize the memory networks in children using electrocorticography and functional MRI. Jun 2016 to Mar 2021. 


    Title: Novel DWI Methods to Minimize Postoperative Deficits in Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery. Agency: National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Application #: R01NS089659. [PI: Jeong-won Jeong, PhD] My role: CoInvestigator (for acquisition and analysis of stimulation data). Effort: 1.2 months (10%). Direct cost: $1,050,000. Major goal: The major goal of this project is to localize the language areas using functional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging techniques. Feb 2015 to Dec 2020. 


    Title: Functional Brain Mapping in Pediatric Neurosurgery. Agency: National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Application #: R01NS064033. My role: Principal Investigator. Effort: 3.0 months (25%). Direct cost: $1,093,750. The major goal of the project is to determine the efficacy of cortical mapping using electrocorticography for prediction of language outcomes to enhance the safety and success of pediatric brain surgery. Funded with a score of top 1.0 percentile. Mar 2009 to May 2021.


Recent Faculty Awards & Other Professional Accomplishments

  • Indira Bhagat, MD

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

    • Director, Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and Simulation Lab Division of Neonatal Perinatal Medicine Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI (February, 2020 - Present) 
    • Abstract Reviewer for the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 2020 
    • Reviewer of Manuscripts - Neonatology in July 2020 

    Research/ Academic mentorship- (Provide guidance on research projects, scholarly activities and publications required for completion of training):

    • Research Mentor for Pravesh Sangwan, MD for the study titled “Reasons for refusal of Hepatitis B Vaccination in newborn infant.” Results were presented at the 44th Central Conference on Perinatal Research by AAP in Louisville, Kentucky in March 2020 
    • Research Mentor for Qassim Abid (Pediatric Nephrology Fellow) for the study titled “Fluid Bolus Administration in Neonates with Acute Kidney Injury: A Survey of Clinical Practice.” 2018- 2020 
    • Research Mentor for Qassim Abid (Pediatric Nephrology Fellow) for the study titled “Response to Fluid Bolus in Neonates with Acute Kidney Injury: A Retrospective Study.” 2018- 2020 
    • Academic advisor to Jessica Lyon, MD (Pediatric Resident) As a Faculty mentor met the resident every 4 months for career advice, review of evaluations and performance during residency 
  • Norimitsu Kuwabara, MD

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

    • Certificated with clinical neurophysiology board
  • Amiee Luat, MD

    Awards:

    • Hour Magazine "Top Doc" 2020 
    • WSU Neurology Pediatric Neurology Faculty Award June 2020
  • Naznin Mahmood, MD

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

    • Invited speaker Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan August 1, 2020—“Seizure Management in School” as part of (Virtual) Back to School Conference: Helping You Support Your Student with Epilepsy
  • Lalitha Sivaswamy, MD

    Awards: 

    • Top Doc Award 2020 
    • College teaching Award -Wayne State University Medical Students-11/2020 
    • Mentor to resident who received Best Paper of 2020 Submitted to the Pediatric Neurology journal.

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

  • Carla Watson, MD

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

    • Received certification for Botox for the treatment of Migraines.
  • Amanda Weber, MD

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

    • Ad hoc reviewer for 2 articles. 

Recent Faculty Awards & Other Professional Accomplishments - Neurology PET Center

  • Eishi Asano, MD

    Awards:

    • Social Media Editor in Clinical Neurophysiology: Official Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Apr 2020-present.

    Other Professional Accomplishments:

    • Eishi Asano. Critical appraisal of new investigative tools for epilepsy surgery –Tractography- Invited lecture at the 1st North American Epilepsy Congress, organized by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). Toronto, ON, Canada. Sep 25, 2020. [Virtual meeting]  
    • Eishi Asano. Cortical stimulation and brain mapping in extra- and intra-operative epilepsy surgeries. Keynote lecture at the 2020 Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Update and Review Course, Cleveland, OH. Sep 23, 2020. [Virtual meeting] 
    • Eishi Asano. Scientific session: “How deep in the brain can you see with EEG, MEG and EEGfMRI?” Session Director at the 2020 Annual Meeting of American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, New Orleans, LA, Feb 7-9, 2020. 
    • Eishi Asano. Technical aspects of signal acquisition and planning of stereo-EEG for language mapping. Invited lecture at the 2020 Annual Meeting of American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, New Orleans, LA, Feb 7-9, 2020.

Special Areas of Focus

Refractory Epilepsy

We have a dedicated group of child neurologists who have specialized training in pediatric epilepsy. We discuss complex cases in our weekly epilepsy meetings, recommend resective or palliative surgical interventions and work collaboratively with our neurosurgical colleagues. We have expertise in various devices such as VNS and RNS.

Muscular Dystrophy

We are funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association of America. We run a comprehensive MDA clinic with participation of neurologists, rehabilitation physicians, occupational and physical therapists and dietitians.

Concussion Clinic

We evaluate children within days of a concussion, coordinate return to school programs and make recommendations for long term care. 

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