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The BRAIN Foundation Presents:

Synchrony 2026 agenda

please note that the final talk schedule is subject to change

Sunday, August 30

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9:00-9:05am

Welcome & Introduction: Understanding the Whole Child

Pramila Srinivasan Ph.D, The BRAIN Foundation
Pramila Srinivasan, Ph.D is President and Board Member of BRAIN Foundation. She is also an entrepreneur in the healthcare industry and supporter of medical research.
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9:05-9:35am

Opportunities for Improving Care in ASD

Jeremy Veenstra Vanderweele M.D., Columbia University
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9:40-9:50am

The BRAIN Foundation Update

Pramila Srinivasan Ph.D, The BRAIN Foundation
Pramila Srinivasan, Ph.D is President and Board Member of BRAIN Foundation. She is also an entrepreneur in the healthcare industry and supporter of medical research.
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9:50-10:20am

When Your Child Suddenly Changes: Clues That There May Be an Underlying Medical Cause

Kevin Hoffman M.D., Ph.D, Stanford University
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10:20-10:50am

When New Psychiatric Symptoms Appear: Could Inflammation Be Affecting the Brain?

Ahmed Obeidat M.D., Ph.D, Medical College of Wisconsin
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10:50-11:20am

When Should a Child with Autism Be Evaluated for Brain Inflammation?

Samuel Pleasure M.D., Ph.D, UCSF Health
Dr. Samuel J. Pleasure is a neurologist who has expertise in caring for patients with epilepsy as well as years of experience in managing a variety of neurological conditions in both clinic and hospital settings. Pleasure is the Glenn W. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Endowed Chair in Neurology at UCSF.
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11:20-11:50am

The Gut–Brain Connection: Practical Parent Guidance in Navigating Inflammatory Bowel Conditions

Arthur Krigsman M.D., Gastroenterologist
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12:00pm-1:00pm

LUNCH

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1:00-2:00pm

Catatonia in Autism: Recognizing the Signs and Finding Effective Treatment

Richard Jin M.D., Ph.D, UCSF and Kevin Hoffman M.D., Ph.D, Stanford University
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2:00-3:00pm

Your Autism Roadmap: From Diagnosis to Personalized Care

Neil Emery M.D., Internal Medicine/Pediatric Specialist and John Gaitanis M.D., Pediatric Neurologist
John Gaitanis, M.D., Pediatric Neurologist at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Associate Professor, Brown Medical School. His clinical research focuses on finding improved biomarkers and therapeutics for epilepsy, and improving EEG signal acquisition with advancements in electrode design and software processing techniques.
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3:00-3:30pm

Metabolic Psychiatry: Could Metabolism Affect Brain Health and Behavior?

Shebani Sethi M.D. ABOM, Stanford University
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3:30-4:00pm

What’s on the Horizon? Promising Clinical Trials in Autism

Craig Rouskey MSc, CEO, Flore Inc. and Charles Niesen M.D., CEO AMS Therapeutics
Charles E. Niesen, M.D., a pediatric neurologist, heads a team of skilled providers at AMS Neurology in Pasadena, California. Board-certified in child neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the Medical Research Council of Canada, Dr. Niesen specializes in childhood epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders. He has authored over twenty peer-reviewed publications on epilepsy and the effects of drugs on the developing brain
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4:00-4:30pm

Genetics and Deteriorations in ASD: What Can Our Genes Tell Us?

Herb Lachman M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine
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4:30-5:30pm

SESSION: Beyond the Brain: Medical Conditions of the Body That Can Affect a Vulnerable Brain

Gut Clues: Recognizing Signs of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Laura Pace, M.D., Ph.D, FACG, Neurogastroenterologist

Could an Infection Trigger a Sudden Change? What Parents Should Look For & Pitfalls to Avoid

Christina Hermos M.D., MMSc, UMass Chan Medical School

Beyond Behavior: Recognizing Possible Rheumatologic Clues in Youth and Adults with Autism

Jennifer Frankovich, M.D. MS, Stanford University
Dr. Frankovich is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Immunology Rheumatology (AIR) at Stanford University/Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH). Her clinical expertise is in systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that co-occur with psychiatric symptoms.
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5:30pm

Closing Remarks: Moving Toward Better Care

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5:40pm or later

Talk with a Doc: Bring Your Burning Questions!

All Speakers + David Traver M.D., FAAP + Yinka Davies M.D., Pediatric Gastroenterologist

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