2026 Pediatric Neurosciences Research Symposium

CCNR's inaugural symposium, held on September 18, 2026, celebrated the role of collaboration in advancing pediatric brain and nervous system research. We were thrilled to welcome 184 registered attendees from 20 different institutions. 

Program
Abstract Book

Congratulations to our poster award winners:

• Franklin Chien, MD – “Medulloblastoma Spatial Transcriptomics Reveals Tumor Microenvironment Heterogeneity with High-Density Progenitor Cell Regions Correlating with High-risk Disease”
• Armina Fani, BS – “Robust Neonatal Brain Segmentation in the Privacy and Convenience of the Browser”
• Jorge Luis Jimenez Macias, PhD – “Targeting of the YAP/TAZ-TEAD axis Restricts Intra-tumoral Heterogeneity in Pediatric High-Grade Glioma”
• Sofia Oliver, MS – “Gut Microbiome Metagenomic Profiles and Associated with Psychoneurological Symptoms in Children with Solid Tumors Undergoing Chemotherapy”
• Hao Xing, PhD – “EP2 Receptor Antagonism Preserves Inhibitory Interneurons and Reduces Long-Term Seizure Burden After Status Epilepticus in an Adolescence Seizure Mouse Model”

View recordings from the talks here:

• Grace Gombolay, MD, MSc, FAAN, FCNS - "Advancing Rare Neuroinflammatory Disease Research Through a Rare Disease Clinical Research Network: ARISEN"
• Laura S. Blackwell, PhD, ABPP-CN - "KIDS-STAT: A Collaborative Clinical Research Model for Accelerating Neuroscience in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury"
• Richard S. Finkel, MD - Keynote Presentation - "Why Academic Study Groups Are Essential to Therapeutic Development for Rare Neurologic Disorders: The Example of Spinal Muscular Atrophy"

2025 CCNR Meet & Greet

CCNR's second Meet & Greet, held October 27, 2025, brought together pediatric neuroscience researchers from across our community for an evening of knowledge-sharing and connection. Thank you to everyone who joined!