Opening Session
08:30 AM - 08:50 AM
Addressing the complexity of neurogenetic disorders in the MENA region: let’s bridge the gaps!
Dr. Mohamed Babiker
Consultant Pediatric Neurology and Director of Pediatric Neurology Residency Program, Al Jalila Children`s Specialty Hospital, Dubai, UAE
08:50 AM - 09:10 AM
How does the future of genetic testing in the Middle East look like?
Dr. Ahmad Abou Tayoun
Director, Genomics Center of Excellence, Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, Dubai, UAE
Genetic Epilepsies
Chairperson: Prof. Fahad Al Bashiri
Consultant Pediatric Neurology and Epileptology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University and President, Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
09:10 AM - 09:30 AM
Understanding genetic causes of epilepsy in the Middle East: what do we know so far?
Prof. Fahad Al Bashiri
Consultant Pediatric Neurology and Epileptology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University and President, Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
09:30 AM - 09:50 AM
Is precision medicine in epilepsy 'precise' enough? addressing the controversies
Dr. Arif Khan
Founder and CEO, Neuropedia Children’s Neuroscience Center, Consultant Pediatric Neurologist, Dubai, UAE
09:50 AM - 10:10 AM
Beyond medications: novel non-pharmacological strategies for genetic epilepsies
Dr. Ruba Benini
Pediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist, Sidra Medicine, Ar Rayyan, Qatar
10:10 AM - 10:30 AM
TBA
10:30 AM - 10:40 AM
Discussion/ Questions and answers
10:40 AM - 11:00 AM — Coffee Break
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Chairperson: Prof. Pierre Krystkowiak
Consultant Neurology, Specialized Rehabilitation Center, Capital Health, Abu Dhabi, UAE
11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Decoding Huntington's disease: genetic insights and future directions
Prof. Pierre Krystkowiak
Consultant Neurology, Specialized Rehabilitation Center, Capital Health, Abu Dhabi, UAE
11:20 AM - 11:40 AM
Aicardi Goutières syndrome and related syndromes: a diagnostic conundrum!
Dr. Aman Sohal
Division Chief, Pediatric Neurology, Al Qassimi Women and Children's Hospital, Sharjah, UAE
11:40 AM - 12:00 PM
Parkinsonism in neurodegenerative disorders: a diagnostic and therapeutic overview
Dr. Shivam Mittal
Section Head and Consultant Neurologist, Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Program, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
12:00 PM - 12:20 PM
Genomics and imaging in pediatric white matter disorders
Prof. Sunny Philip
Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Mediclinic City Hospital & Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, Dubai, UAE
12:20 PM - 12:40 PM
Progressive myoclonic epilepsies: from genes to phenotypes to therapeutics
Dr. Ubaid Shah
Consultant Pediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist; Director Epilepsy Centre, Drag American Hospital Dubai, Dubai, UAE
12:40 PM - 01:00 PM
Discussion/ Questions and answers
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM — Lunch Break
Movement Disorders
Chairperson: Dr. Wejdan Hakami
Head of Pediatric Neurology Division, and Consultant in Pediatric Neurology, Movement Disorders, and Neuromodulation, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
02:00 PM - 02:25 PM
The expanding landscape of genetically determined paroxysmal movement disorders
Dr. Wejdan Hakami
Head of Pediatric Neurology Division, and Consultant in Pediatric Neurology, Movement Disorders, and Neuromodulation, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
02:25 PM - 02:50 PM
Genetic mimics of cerebral palsy: are we still missing them?
Dr. Fatima Ismail
Assistant Professor of Pediatric Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, Department of Pediatrics, UAE University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
02:50 PM - 03:15 PM
Biotin-thiamine-responsive basal ganglia disease: a never-miss diagnosis!
Prof. Brahim Tabarki Melaiki
Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
03:15 PM - 03:40 PM
The genetics of Parkinsonism: the state of affairs in 2025
Dr. Mohammed Al Muqbil
Consultant, Pediatric Neurology and Genetics, Associate Professor, College of Medicine National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
03:40 PM - 04:00 PM
Discussion/ Questions and answers
04:00 PM - 04:30 PM — Coffee Break
Neurometabolic Diseases
Chairperson: Prof. Brahim Tabarki Melaiki
Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
04:30 PM - 04:50 PM
Congenital disorders of Autophagy: an emerging class of inborn errors of neuro-metabolism
Prof. Brahim Tabarki Melaiki
Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
04:50 PM - 05:10 PM
Advanced approach to diagnosis and treatment of inborn neurometabolic disorders
Prof. Tawfeg Ben-Omran
Division Chief and Senior Consultant, Medical Genetic Department, Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
05:10 PM - 05:30 PM
Precision medicine and management options for neurometabolic disorders
Dr. Anwar Baban
Consultant Clinical Molecular Genetics, Mediclinic Middle East Hospitals, Dubai, UAE
05:30 PM - 05:40 PM
Discussion/ Questions and answers