Roundtable Discussions

In this special NeurologyLive® Roundtable Discussion, developed in collaboration with the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), leading Parkinson disease experts Roger Barker, MBBS, MRCP, PhD, FMedSci, and Claire Henchcliffe, MD, DPhil, explore the rapidly advancing field of stem cell medicine and its potential role in the treatment of Parkinson disease. The series is anchored around ISSCR’s recently launched educational course, which was designed to provide clinicians with a comprehensive, evidence-based overview of stem cell science, clinical development, and emerging therapeutic applications in neurology.

Across this multi-episode discussion, the faculty examine the current state of stem cell–based therapies for Parkinson disease, including the rationale behind dopamine cell replacement approaches, the evolving clinical trial landscape, and the challenges of translating promising research into clinical practice. The conversation also highlights practical considerations for neurologists, from counseling patients about investigational therapies and stem cell tourism to understanding the latest advances in regenerative medicine and their potential implications for the future treatment of Parkinson disease and other neurologic disorders.

To view ISSCR’s latest course on stem cells in PD, click here.

In this special NeurologyLive® Roundtable Discussion, Andrei Alexandrov, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix, joins Beth Kavanaugh, MD, director of the Pediatric Stroke Program at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, for an expert conversation on the latest stroke guideline updates and their implications for clinical practice. Moderated by NeurologyLive, the discussion explores the landmark inclusion of pediatric stroke recommendations in the newest guidelines and what this development means for recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke across the lifespan.

Across the discussion, the experts highlight the growing collaboration between adult and pediatric stroke programs, emphasizing the importance of early recognition, rapid imaging, and access to specialized expertise. The conversation addresses key updates in diagnostic strategies—including expanded support for multimodal imaging and CT perfusion—alongside evolving treatment approaches such as thrombolysis, thrombectomy, and emerging interventions for post-stroke complications. Panelists also discuss the unique challenges of pediatric stroke, including higher rates of stroke mimics, delayed diagnosis, and the need for coordinated hub-and-spoke care models that connect community hospitals with specialized stroke centers.

In this special NeurologyLive® Roundtable Discussion, Marco Meglio, managing editor of NeurologyLive, moderates a panel of leading multiple sclerosis experts, including Samantha Roman, MD; Adnan Subei, DO, FAAN; and Lilyana Amezcua, MD, for a focused discussion on the evolving 2024 McDonald diagnostic criteria and their impact on clinical care.

Across this multi-episode series, the panel examines how updates to imaging, biomarkers, and diagnostic thresholds are enabling earlier and more precise identification of MS. The discussion highlights the integration of tools such as the central vein sign, paramagnetic rim lesions, and kappa free light chains, while also addressing real-world considerations, including access to advanced diagnostics, implementation challenges, and the evolving approach to diagnosing and managing patients earlier in the disease course.

In this roundtable series, titled “Crossroads in Neuro-Oncology: Understanding Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes,” Northwestern Medicine neurologists Shaliee Shah, MD, and Ditte Primdahl, MD, discussed the recognition and management of paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNS) in patients with cancer. These immune mediated neurologic disorders can present across the cancer continuum and may cause rapid functional decline, underscoring the importance of early identification, appropriate diagnostic evaluation, and coordinated multidisciplinary care. Overall, the conversation focused on real world presentation patterns, key diagnostic considerations, and practical management strategies in PNS.

In this roundtable discussion, pediatric specialists Shannon Brothers, PhD, Cortney Wolfe-Christensen, PhD, and Janelle Wagner, PhD provided clinical perspectives on a recently published paper analyzing youth with refractory epilepsy displaying depressive symptoms. Throughout this multi-part series, the study authors provide clinical insight on the study’s findings, importance, limitations, and clinical implications surrounding children and youth with epilepsy.

In this roundtable discussion, sleep experts Gerard J. Meskill, MD, and Laura B. Herpel, MD, reviewed real-world data presented at the 2025 World Sleep Congress highlighting advances in narcolepsy management. Panelists discussed key findings related to optimizing treatment strategies, improving adherence and tolerability, and understanding long-term safety outcomes. The conversation also explored data addressing common comorbidities as well as emerging evidence suggesting the need for more tailored approaches for patient subgroups, including those with type 1 versus type 2 narcolepsy.

In this special NeurologyLive^® Roundtable Discussion, Brian Snelling, MD, neurosurgeon, director of cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery, and director of the stroke program at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, joins Felipe De Los Rios, MD, neurologist, Irma Bass Endowed Chair in Stroke Neurology, and director of the stroke program at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, for an in-depth exploration of the rapidly evolving field of stroke care.

Across five expert-led conversations, Drs. Snelling and De Los Rios examine how stroke management is being redefined through expanded thrombectomy eligibility, the integration of artificial intelligence into triage, the pursuit of neuroprotective and cytoprotective agents, new frontiers in post-stroke recovery and secondary prevention, and the creation of efficient, data-driven stroke systems of care. Their insights offer a real-world look at how innovation, coordination, and clinical precision are transforming the standard of care for patients with cerebrovascular disease.

In this roundtable discussion, movement disorder specialists from the Women Neurologists Group (WNG)—Jill M. Farmer, DO, MPH, and Kathrin LaFaver, MD, FAAN, DipABLM—discussed the mission of their organization and highlighted the program at the 4th Annual Women in Neurology Conference, held October 24–26 in Colorado Springs, which aims to support women in the field. The conversation reflected on key milestones achieved over the past decade by WNG, while also looking ahead to how the group can continue addressing the challenges faced by women neurologists.

Click here to register for the 4th Annual Women in Neurology Conference. Click here to learn more about the WNG.

In this roundtable discussion, experts Scott Perry, MD, and Gita Gupta, MS, MS, reflected on key themes from 2025 Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) Research Meeting of the Minds. The conversation addressed pressing gaps in current LGS care, including the need for more effective, individualized treatment strategies and improved access to multidisciplinary resources. Panelists highlighted actionable approaches such as enhancing care coordination, expanding caregiver education, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. The panel also considered how takeaways from the meeting could influence the design and focus of future clinical trials to better address the diverse needs of patients living with LGS.

In this roundtable discussion, Bjorn Oskarsson, MD; John Novak, MD; Christina Fournier, MD, focused on recent advances in ALS research that show potential to improve clinical care, emphasizing the integration of holistic approaches to patient management. Experts highlighted the growing role of genetic testing in refining diagnosis and tailoring treatment plans. They also discussed the importance of nonpharmacologic interventions in symptom management and stressed the value of a multidisciplinary team approach to support both patients and caregivers throughout the progression of ALS, aiming to enhance overall outcomes and quality of life.

In this roundtable discussion, Ellen Mowry, MD, and Nicole Boschi, PhD, explored the early signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including how these symptoms were initially misattributed to other conditions. They discussed the diagnostic process, detailing the types of testing used to rule out alternative diagnoses and confirm MS. The conversation also emphasized the importance of shared decision-making between clinicians and patients, highlighting how collaborative treatment planning supports individualized care and improves long-term outcomes.

In this roundtable discussion, Ari Green, MD, and Paul Tesar, PhD, delve into the current landscape of remyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS), offering expert perspectives on one of the field’s most pressing therapeutic frontiers. The panel explores how our understanding of remyelination has evolved, the tools used to measure it in human studies, and the challenges of translating early scientific success into clinical progress. The conversation also touches on the impact of aging and disease duration on remyelination potential, highlights novel agents in clinical trials, and debates whether remyelination should be pursued as a standalone strategy or in combination with immunomodulatory therapy. Looking ahead, the experts outline the innovations in imaging, trial design, and therapeutic development that could help close the gap between discovery and clinical application.

In the roundtable series "Advances in SMA Treatments: Insights for Neurologists," experts Diana Bharucha-Goebel, MD, and Bakri Elsheikh, MBBS, FRCP, explore the rapidly evolving landscape of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) care. Across seven episodes, they cover the latest treatment options, updated best practices, and the growing importance of newborn screening and early diagnosis. The series offers neurologists practical insights on integrating new therapies into clinical practice and highlights the essential role of multidisciplinary care in improving outcomes for patients with SMA.

In this roundtable discussion, Moein Amin, MD, Marisa McGinley, DO, and Devon Conway, MD,explored key developments in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment and research. The panelists discussed which sessions in the meeting could have the most immediate impact on clinical practice, as well as the potential for emerging therapies like BTK inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy to reshape MS treatment. They also delve into the promising applications of AI and machine learning in MS, while addressing the challenges that remain. The conversation further touched on the increasing focus on aging and MS progression, with the experts sharing insights on managing aging-related factors in MS care.

In this roundtable series "From Criteria to Clarity: MS and its Impact on Vision", neurologists Elena Grebenciucova, MD, and Neena Cherayil, MD, dive into the crucial relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) and the visual system. They explore how ocular symptoms, such as optic neuritis, often serve as early indicators of MS and discuss recent advancements in diagnostic criteria, including the incorporation of optic nerve involvement. The discussion highlights the essential role of neuro-ophthalmologists in MS care, emphasizing their expertise in using advanced diagnostic tools like OCT (optical coherence tomography) and their role in distinguishing MS from other conditions with similar ocular symptoms. The series provides insights into the intersection of MS research, patient care, and the evolving understanding of visual impairments in MS.

In this roundtable discussion, sleep experts Seema Khosla, MD, FCCP, FAASM, Jennifer Martin, PhD, and Karin Johnson, MD, examined the impact of daylight saving time on patients with sleep disorders. They highlighted how the time change often exacerbates sleep difficulties, leading to increased complaints of delayed sleep onset, daytime fatigue, and disrupted sleep patterns. Certain populations are more vulnerable to these effects because of rigid schedules and heightened sensitivity to circadian misalignment. To mitigate these disruptions, clinicians recommended gradual adjustments to sleep schedules, consistent wake times, and strategic light exposure. The discussion also considered whether eliminating the time change would benefit public health.

In this compelling panel discussion, neurologists Vanessa Hinson, MD, PhD (Medical University of South Carolina), Carlayne Jackson, MD (UT Health San Antonio) and Marie Eugene, DO (University of Connecticut) explore the evolving role of women in neurology. They share insights into empowering women leaders, their unique contributions to neurology departments, and the challenges they’ve faced as women in the medical workforce. The conversation also highlights groundbreaking women-related research, making this series a must-watch for those passionate about advancing diversity and inclusion in medicine.

This series discusses Long COVID's prevalence, noting that one in five Americans and one in ten COVID patients may be affected. It features a panel of experts including Ravindra Ganesh, MD, MBBS, FACP, Dip ABOM, Svetlana Blitshteyn, MD, FAAN, and Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD.

This panel series, featuring renowned experts Kapil Arya, MD; Juan Francisco Vazquez Costa, MD, PhD; and Mary Schroth, offers neurologists an in-depth look into the latest advancements in the diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Across six comprehensive segments, these leading clinicians and researchers explore the evolving best practices, emerging evidence, and critical updates that impact both clinical care and patient outcomes. The series covers essential topics, including newborn screening protocols, the role of early diagnosis, adult-onset 5q SMA, and the importance of timely treatment access. Tailored for the medical community, this series provides key insights into the future of SMA diagnosis and management.

Neurologists Benjamin Greenberg, MD, and Jeffrey Bennett, MD, PhD, delved into the complexities of diagnosing and treating MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). The duo share insight about the evolving diagnostic process and the current treatment landscape, emphasizing both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches. Further, they discussed ongoing research efforts and drug developments aimed at addressing unmet needs in managing this challenging condition.

John England, MD, FAAN, and Lisa Merlin, MD, cover the ins and outs of the 2024 Association of University Professors of Neurology (AUPN) Annual Meeting, held September 14th in Orlando Florida.

Resources for Providers and Patients
- Agenda for the meeting
- Registration
- Hotel reservations
- CME
- Complete program

Jeff Cohen, MD; Alycin Magruder, PharmD; and Sarah Anderson, PharmD, discuss the recent introduction of biosimilars into the therapeutic landscape of multiple sclerosis, and the downstream effects for physicians, patients, and payers in this new era of treatment.

Resources for Providers and Patients
• Generic and Biosimilar Medications | National MS Society
• Generic and Biosimilar FAQs
• 5 Things to Know About Biosimilars - Momentum Magazine
• Ask an MS Expert: Biosimilars and Generics
• Tyruko News Bulletin
• Patient Assistance Program
• Guide to Prescription Financial Assistance

Sanford Siegel, Douglas Kerr, MD; and Benjamin Greenberg, MD, comment on several topics related to the treatment of rare neuroimmune disorders, including complexities with distinguishing certain conditions and where research should be dedicated to in the coming years.

Robert Griggs, MD; Clifton Gooch, MD; and Henry Kaminski, MD, former presidents of the AUPN, share insight on the changes in neurology and how it is taught, the lessons learned over time, and the future for other neurology department leaders.