Dr. Neelu Desai is a full time Hospital Based Consultant in Paediatric Neurology at P. D. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai. She is also an Honorary Consultant in Child Neurology at LTM Medical College and Sion Hospital, Mumbai. PD Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai is one of the pioneer and best institutes in India for Comprehensive Child Neurology Services and is a tertiary referral centre for child neurology from all over India and neighbouring countries.
Dr Neelu Desai is a focused, diligent and compassionate Child Neurologist with more than 12 years of experience in the field. She has a keen interest in managing children with refractory epilepsy, demyelinating disorders and cerebral palsy. She is an active member of the Child Development Centre at Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai which provides holistic rehabilitation and early intervention to children with neurological diseases. Dr. Neelu Desai has a love for teaching and academics with a five year teaching experience as a lecturer in Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology. She is also a teacher for DNB Paediatrics and MUHS accredited Pediatric Neurology fellowships at Hinduja hospital.
Dr. Neelu Desai did her initial Child Neurology training at BJ Wadia Children’s hospital, Mumbai for 5 years as a lecturer. This is one of the best, multidisciplinary tertiary care Paediatric super specialty hospitals in public sector of Mumbai and India and a topmost tertiary referral centre for neurological patients from all over India.
She furthered her knowledge in the field of Child neurology and epilepsy at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London and was the recipient of the prestigious Bill Marshall Fellowship which is given annually to one doctor from South Asia. This prestigious institute is one of the best centres in world for research in childhood illnesses. She worked as a Clinical Fellow in Pediatric Neurology and was an integral part of the Child Neurology team where she gained excellent experience in Complex epilepsy, Electrophysiology as well as Clinical Neurology and contributed for various research projects.
In past, she has headed the Joint Cerebral Palsy Clinic and Child Development Centre at Jupiter Hospital, Thane which provides a holistic care for children with cerebral palsy. She is also involved in training of the electrophysiology technicians and maintaining quality control.
- Fellowship in Pediatric Neurology- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and Institute of Child Health, London. 2008-09
- M.D. (Paediatrics) B.Y.L. Nair Hospital 2001 Mumbai
- DNB, B.Y.L. Nair Hospital, Mumbai 2002
- M.B.B.S. LTM Medical college 1997 Mumbai
Life member -
- International Child Neurology Association (ICNA)
- International League against Epilepsy (ILAE)
- Indian Epilepsy Association
- Association of Child Neurology
- Paediatric Neurology Division of IAP
- Indian Academy of Paediatrics
- Indian Medical Association
- Child Neurology Group
Dr. Neelu Desai has authored books, presented papers and participated as faculty at various national and International conferences. She has given guest lectures at various conferences and institutions and has been part of DNB teaching program for Indian Academy of Pediatrics and Sion Hospital.
She has also been a Faculty as well organiser at various National and International Pediatric Neurology conferences viz Child Neurocon, Neuropedicon, Pedicon, etc. She has organised various EEG courses and also is the zonal coordinator for Pediatric EEG Course. She is actively involved in various research projects at Hinduja hospital and Sion Hospital, Mumbai.
Strengths and Achievements:
- Awarded the Bill Marshall Fellowship, UK, 2008 given annually to one doctor from south Asia to work at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London
- Charles Morehead award for topmost marks in practical medicine in IIIrd MBBS in Mumbai University.
- Dr. J.K. Mehta award for topmost marks in practical medicine in IIIrd MBBS in Mumbai University.
- Tara Mudgal Award for securing top rank in IIIrd M.B.B.S in LTM Medical College and Sion hospital, Mumbai.
- Distinctions in Medicine, Gynecology-Obstetrics, Pharmacology and Microbiology during MBBS in Mumbai.
Dr Desai has been part of many local and international research and multicentric trials. Some of the ongoing studies where she is the Principal Investigator are :
1) Pediatric Options for Migraine Relief: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Lasmiditan for Acute Treatment of Migraine: PIONEER-PEDS1- Ongoing
2) A Phase 3, 12-Month, Open-Label Study of Lasmiditan in Pediatric Patients with Migraine - PIONEER-PEDS 2- Ongoing
3) A randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrathecal (IT) OAV101 in patients with later onset Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who are ≥ 2 to < 18 years of age, treatment naive, sitting, and never ambulatory- Awaiting for approval
4)COAV101A12402-Real-World Use of Novel Treatments in Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA): A Multi-Site Retrospective Chart Review of Pediatric SMA Patients Outside of the United States- In Submission
5) ML43557-Observational, Non-Interventional, Postmarketing Surveillance study of Risdiplam in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients in India- In submission.
6) Phenotype characteristics and treatment responses in children with Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody–Associated Disease: A Multicentric Retrospective Cohort Study- Principle Invesigator- Dr Neelu Desai, Dr Vishal Sondhi,
Some of the thesis where she has been a guide are as follows:
· A study to determine association between sleep related breathing disorders in children and epilepsy.
· A prospective study to determine prevalence of sensory processing dysfunction in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
· Challenges for children with cerebral palsy and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PUBLICATIONS
Journals:
- GPR56-Related Polymicrogyria: Clinicoradiologic Profile of 4 Patients. Neelu A. Desai, Vrajesh Udani. J Child Neurol. 2015 Nov;30(13):1819-23.
- Proposed International League Against Epilepsy Classification 2010: New Insights. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2014, 81: 9; 883-887.
- Partial Manifestation of Anti-NMDA-R Encephalitis with Predominant Movement Disorder. Vrajesh Udani, Neelu Desai, Abhijeet Botre. MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL PRACTICE 2015 doi:10.1002/mdc3.12221.
- Unusual Presentations of Posterior Fossa Tumors in Children. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2010 .DOI: 10.1007/s12098-010-0146-6.
- Early onset symptomatic focal epilepsy – a dilemma in the timing of surgery. Epileptic Disorders 2008; 10 (4): 356-61.
- Role of short duration outpatient Video EEG monitoring in Children. Neurology Asia, 2007; 12(Supplement I): 80-81.
- Early onset seizures the result of probable focal brain lesion – The disappearing lesion! Childs Nerv Syst DOI 10.1007/s00381-008-0704-7.
- A re-evaluation of the clinical and pathological features of malformations of cortical development associated with epilepsy in children. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, 35(Suppl. 1): 1-38; Jan 2009
- Case report, “Annuloaortic ectasia: Identical lesions in two siblings. Indian Paediatrics, April 2002.
Book chapters
- SECTION COORDINATOR IN NEUROLOGY OF IAP TEXTBOOK ‘ALGORITHM IN PEDIATRICS’ 2016
- Chapter on ‘Metabolic Disorders of Nervous system’. API textbook of Medicine. 2014.
- Chapter ‘Approach to Benign epilepsy syndromes of Childhood’- IAP textbook of Pediatric Neurology, 2013.
- Chapter on ‘Drug Resistant epilepsy’. Pediatric Neurology. Recent Trends in Pediatrics. Volume 2 2013
- Paediatric Acute Demyelinating Central Nervous System Diseases. Pediatric Clinics of India 2011
- “Stridor” - Recent advances of paediatrics, special volume on pulmonology, 2001
- Immunological aspects of lung - Recent advances of paediatrics, special volume on pulmonology, 2001
- Adverse reactions of vaccines. Childhood Immunization, 2002
- Necrotizing fascitis: A case Report. Pediatriconcall.com, July 2006
- Tracheal agenesis: case report. Pulmonology update, 2006
- Congenital anomalies: A prospective study. Bombay Hospital
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autism
Brain Injury & Concussions
Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Epilepsy & Seizures
Encephalitis
Headaches & Migraines
Learning and Developmental Disorders
Metabolic Disorders
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neuromyelitis Optica
Neuromuscular Disorders
Perinatal Injury
Peripheral Neuropathy
Rett Syndrome
Tics & Tourette Syndrome
Tuberous Sclerosis
Kids neuroligical problems, epilepsy, seziures, SMA in kids