MENA Congress

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Chairperson: Prof. Haitham Elbashir
Consultant Pediatric Neurorehabilitation, Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, Dubai, UAE

08:30 AM - 08:55 AM

The genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders

Dr. Huda Sadek

Consultant Neurodevelopment Pediatrician, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE


08:55 AM - 09:20 AM

Spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders in UAE

Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri

Consultant Clinical Genetics and Medical Biochemical, Genetics and Program Director, Clinical Genetics Fellowship Program, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, UAE


09:20 AM - 09:45 AM

Neurodiversity: challenges and opportunities

Prof. Haitham Elbashir

Consultant Pediatric Neurorehabilitation, Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, Dubai, UAE


09:45 AM - 10:10 AM

Beyond conformity: childhood intellectual disabilities

Dr. Alia Satti

Senior Attending Physician in Pediatrics Neurodisability, Clinical Lead for Developmental Pediatrics, Doha, Qatar


10:10 AM - 10:35 AM

Rett's syndrome: an overview and treatment perspectives

Dr. Zeinab Alloub

Consultant Pediatric Neurodevelopment, Al Jalila Children's Speciality Hospital, Dubai, UAE

10:35 AM - 11:00 AMBreak

Neuromuscular Diseases

Chairperson: Dr. Mehtab Iqbal
Consultant Paediatric Neurology and Division Chief, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE

11:00 AM - 11:25 AM

Genetic basis of neuromuscular disorders

Dr. Omar Ismayl

Division Head and Consultant, Pediatric Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE


11:25 AM - 11:50 AM

Gene therapy in neuromuscular disorders: Experience from Qatar

Prof. Tawfeg Ben-Omran

Division Chief, Genetic and Genomic Medicine, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qata


11:50 AM - 12:15 PM

Duchenne therapies: approved and in the pipeline

Dr. Tarek El-Azzabi

Consultant Pediatrics and Neurodisability, Pediatric Department, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE


12:15 PM - 12:40 PM

Congenital myasthenia

Dr. Fatmah Al-Zahmi

Department Head and Consultant, Neurology, Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, Dubai, UAE


12:40 PM - 01:00 PM

Spinal muscular atrophy gene therapy: long-term efficacy and safety

Prof. Haitham Elbashir

Consultant Pediatric Neurorehabilitation, Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, Dubai, UAE

01:05 PM - 02:30 PMLunch Break

Genetic Epilepsies

Chairperson: Dr. Abdulla Alawadhi
Consultant Pediatric Neurology and Epileptology, Head of Pediatric Neurology Department, Al Jalila Children`s Hospital, Dubai, UAE

02:00 PM - 02:25 PM

Complexity in genetic epilepsies: a comprehensive approach

Dr. Majid Aziz

Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE


02:25 PM - 02:50 PM

Genetic epilepsies and precision medicine

Dr. Arif Khan

Founder and CEO, Neuropedia Children’s Neuroscience Center, Dubai, UAE


02:50 PM - 03:15 PM

Seizures in Angelman syndrome

Dr. Samar Almuntaser

Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Al Jalila Children's Speciality Hospital, Dubai, UAE


03:15 PM - 03:40 PM

Genetics of the epilepsies: Perspectives from adult neurology practice

Dr. Hamda Albastaki

Consultant Neurology, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, UAE

Updates on Diagnostics

Chairperson: Dr. Syed Hosain
Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

03:40 PM - 04:05 PM

Utility of whole exome sequencing in detecting neurodevelopmental disorders

Dr. Sara Almheiri

Consultant Pediatric Neurodevelopment, Al Jalila Children's Speciality Hospital, Dubai, UAE


04:05 PM - 04:30 PM

Neuroimaging markers of neurogenetic disorders

Dr. Manigandan Thyagarajan

Consultant Pediatric Radiology and Pediatric Neuroradiology, Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital, Dubai, UAE

04:30 PM - 05:00 PMBreak

Advancement in Therapy and Prevention

Chairperson: Dr. Vivek Mundada
Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Medcare Women and Children Hospital, Dubai, UAE

05:00 PM - 05:25 PM

Gene therapy and lessons learnt

Dr. Vivek Mundada

Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Medcare Women and Children Hospital, Dubai, UAE


05:25 PM - 05:50 PM

Reducing the burden: Utility of preimplantation genetic testing in IVF

Dr. Elsamawal El Hakim

Consultant Reproductive Medicine and Assisted Conception, Medical Director Ferticlinic Fertilization Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Top Abstract Presentations

Chairperson: Dr. Mohamed Babiker
Consultant Pediatric Neurology and Director, Pediatric Neurology Residency Program, Al Jalila Children`s Speciality Hospital, Dubai, UAE

05:50 PM - 06:00 PM

Clinical and molecular description of hereditary spastic paraplegia in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Rayouf Almojel

Medical Intern, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia


06:00 PM - 06:10 PM

Establishing the first Angelman syndrome specialty clinic and MDT services in the region: from a dream to a reality – the journey so far

Mr. Alan Taylor

Genetic Counselor, Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, Dubai, UAE


06:10 PM - 06:20 PM

Phenotypic variability and responsiveness to therapy in PRRT-2 related disorders

Dr. Alaa Salman

Pediatric Neurology Resident, Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, Dubai, UAE


06:20 PM - 06:30 PM

Epilepsy in neurofibromatosis 1: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Dr. Yomna Mahmoud

Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

06:30 PM - 06:40 PMCertificate distribution and closing remarks

Chat with a representative