Research

Our goal in pediatric neurological research is to find the best methods for treating disorders of the brain and nervous system in children. We are committed to discovering the best ways to care for kids.

Our research partners include

• Children's Foundation Research Institute (CFRI)
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Semmes Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute
•  The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC)

Our Research

• Medication: Our epileptologists are studying cognitive outcomes in children with partial seizures. Their work will broaden our understanding of how medications affect pediatric patients.
• Brain mapping: Our clinical neuroscience team is leading the way in research of non-invasive functional neuroimaging techniques in children.
• Better outcomes: We’re constantly looking for innovative ways to provide better outcomes for children. We’ve documented a reduced need for reoperation or repeat sedation for postoperative scans in children by utilizing the intraoperative MRI (iMRI).
• Expanding knowledge on rare conditions: Le Bonheur works with other centers to gather data to better understand complex neurological conditions.

For more information on our studies, read our physician publication, Brain Waves.

Clinical Trials

If you are interested in participating in a neuroscience clinical trial, please view our list of current and active trials.

Recent Publications

• “Corpus callosotomy for intractable epilepsy: a contemporary series of operative factors and the overall complication rate” Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics
• “Length of stay following elective craniotomy for tumor resection in children and young adults: a retrospective case series” Journal of Neuro-oncology 
• “Role of cholesterol in modulating brain hyperexcitability” Epilepsia
• “Open versus endoscopic surgery with helmet molding therapy in non-syndromic patients with craniosynostosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes and treatment-related costs” Child’s Nervous System
• “Acute and Long-Term Management of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury at a Quaternary Referral Level 1 Trauma Center: The Memphis Experience and Comparison of a New Scoring System” Neurosurgery 
• “A prospective observational study of operating room traffic during shunt surgery: who comes in and why?” Journal of Neurosurgical Pediatrics 
• “Impact of Age and Concurrent Antiseizure Medication Use on Lacosamide Dose to Concentration Ratio and Dosing in Pediatric Patients” The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics 
• “Concurrent Pit-1 and SALL4 staining in primitive component of pituitary blastoma: A case report with clinicopathologic features including Cushing syndrome presentation, germline DICER1 mutation, and significant therapeutic response to chemoradiation” Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
• “Expert opinion on use of vagus nerve stimulation therapy in the management of pediatric epilepsy: A Delphi consensus study” Seizure