About the Neuroscience Center

If your child has a neurologic disorder, the Neuroscience Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is here to help.

Our world-renowned specialists in Neurology and Neurosurgery collaborate to provide cutting-edge and individualized treatment for infants, children and adolescents with acute or chronic neurological or neurosurgical conditions, while simultaneously advancing care through breakthrough discoveries. We offer the full range of inpatient and outpatient services, including a dedicated Neuroscience Unit and Neurocritical Care Unit which are inpatient units specially equipped to meet the unique medical and surgical needs of children with neurological and neurosurgical conditions. 

Knowledgeable and Caring Specialists

We know a diagnosis of a pediatric neurological condition can be overwhelming for families. Our knowledgeable and caring specialists are dedicated to providing a thorough evaluation, clear diagnosis, and answers about a child’s prognosis to make the journey clearer. We value parents’ experience, observations and concerns, and we partner with families to create a care plan that reduces a child’s symptoms, increases functioning, and supports both the patient and family. We rely on parental feedback throughout a child’s care journey and adjust the treatment plan as needed to maximize each child’s quality of life. 

Neurological Conditions We Treat

Our team consists of more than 250 highly specialized clinicians with advanced training and experience in the diagnosis, management, and surgical treatment of all types of neurological disorders, including:

• Epilepsy
• Brain tumors
• Spinal disorders
• Headache
• Muscle and nerve disorders
• Stroke
• Neuroimmune disorders
• Leukodystrophy

Our pediatric neuroscience team are leading experts in their fields, with experience treating children with rare conditions.

The Neuroscience Center offers:

• A dedicated 24-bed inpatient Neuroscience Unit staffed by a team with specialized training in pediatric neuroscience. This state-of-the-art unit is specially equipped to meet the unique medical and surgical needs of infants, children and young adults with neurological and neurosurgical conditions.
• A range of specialized programs and services, including our dedicated Pediatric Movement Disorders Program, Epilepsy Program and Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative.
• Specialized  neurosurgical care for specific conditions, including selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), deep brain stimulation, a baclofen pump, nasal endoscopic neurosurgery, corpus callosotomy, vagus nerve stimulation, and responsive neurostimulation.
• Early diagnosis, monitoring and care planning for fetuses with suspected congenital malformations involving the brain and spine in partnership with our Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment. Children diagnosed before birth with myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida, have access to multidisciplinary care through prenatal diagnosis, fetal surgery and delivery, and long-term follow-up in CHOP's Spina Bifida Program.
• Care for infants and children with acute brain injuries, including those who are born with congenital neurological malformations and congenital heart disease, through our Brain Protection Program, which integrates advanced neuro-monitoring and management approaches to optimize outcomes and protect the developing brain.
• A dedicated Neuroscience Nurse Navigator who provides family support throughout the course of care for children who need surgery. She works closely with the clinical team and guides families through the treatment process, assessing needs and communicating pertinent updates and medical information.
• Support for patients and families, such as financial counseling, social work, spiritual resources and child life therapy.

Advancing Research

Research is central to the Neuroscience Center’s mission. There is a continuous cycle of learning shared across our labs, clinics, and hospitals. Our team members partner to accelerate clinical neuroscience discovery, including biomarker discovery, tissue genomics, outcomes research, clinical trials, and advanced neurodiagnostics (neuroimaging, electroencephalography, and other modalities), to improve treatment options and outcomes for children affected by neurological disorders.