Pediatric Neurology - UT Southwestern

Research Activities
Division faculty conduct a variety of neurologic bench/basic research and clinical studies, including clinical trials. Current
studies are focused in five areas:
• metabolic disorders of the nervous system
• neuromuscular disease clinical trials
• anti-epileptic drug trials
• clinical trials in pediatric stroke
• clinical studies in the autism spectrum
Faculty present results of their work at many national and international meetings and published over 30 articles in peerreviewed
journals in 2011. Dr. Iannaccone is a co-investigator for the NIH Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical
Trials (NeuroNEXT) which started in October 2011. UT Southwestern Neurology is one of 25 sites to participate in this
study. NeuroNEXT is designed to increase the efficiency of clinical trials, facilitate patient recruitment and retention,
increase the quality of neuroscience clinical trials, and enable public-private partnerships. The network aims to share
expertise and infrastructure across diseases, leverage research resources at clinical sites and take advantage of clinical
research opportunities as they arise. This clinical research network will provide a robust, standardized, and accessible
infrastructure to facilitate rapid development and implementation of protocols in neurological disorders affecting adult
and/or pediatric populations. The network is designed to assure the broadest access to new therapies for patients by carrying
out trials coming from partnerships between NINDS and industry, foundations or academia.
Clinical Activities
The expertise of the faculty is focused on several sub-specialties: comprehensive epilepsy management including
seizure surgery; neuromuscular medicine clinics including myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, Charcot Marie
Tooth and transitional care for adolescent muscle; cerebrovascular disease; neonatal intensive care follow-up; Zero-2-3
neurodevelopment clinic; rare disorders clinic; and neurodevelopmental disabilities clinics including autism, neurocognitive
delay, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder/learning disabilities (ADHD/LD) and traumatic brain injury.
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program
The Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (NDD) concludes its fourth year under the direction
of Dr. Patricia Evans at UT Southwestern. The program continues to experience significant growth
specifically with regard to clinical opportunities, research, education and community outreach. NDD
clinics are multi-disciplinary in structure and are specifically created to serve children with autism,
developmental delay, traumatic brain injuries and ADHD/LD issues. The program has expanded to
provide full-time NDD services to both the Childrne’s Dallas and Legacy campuses.
The NDD team serves the North Texas community at large. The team attends special needs children
on site at the Dallas-based Autistic Treatment Center on a quarterly basis, and works closely with Dr.
Carolyn Garver and her outstanding team of specialists. Drs. Evans and Morris speak throughout
the metropolis in various educational settings, including the Dallas ISD, the Dallas Theological
Seminary, and other specialty programs regarding children with special needs.
Dr. Patricia Evans
Associate Professor
Epilepsy Program
The Epilepsy Program, under the direction of Dr. Susan Arnold, includes a Designated Level 4
Epilepsy Center, the first and only Pediatric Epilepsy program in the Country to be certified by the
Joint Commission.
The program includes the Children’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) that contains eight beds
and providing 24/7 coverage for patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), the neonatal
intensive care unit (NICU) and the emergency department. The EMU team includes an attending,
support staff, and several third-year medical students on their required neurology rotation plus
rotating residents from adult neurology, psychiatry or other specialties.
Dr. Susan Arnold
Associate Professor
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