The American Neurological Association’s Global Neurology Initiatives: Progress and Future Directions*
Date: October 18, 2026
Time: 11:45 am to 12:45 pm
Room: Sandpiper Salons C&D
Track: Interactive Lunch Workshop (ILW)
Session Description
Over the past year, reductions in international aid and global health programs in combination with increased restrictions on international collaborations supported by federal grants have led to disruption and uncertainty for the global neurology field. This interactive lunch workshop led by members of the ANA Global Engagement Committee will address the current challenges facing the field but also highlight the recent successes of the ANA’s global health programs, including the International Outreach Travel Scholarship (IOS), which provides funding for early-career US-based neurologists to travel to a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) and complete an education or research project, and the Grant to Activate Global Engagement (GAGE), which empowers organizations in LMICs to hold neurology education and/or outreach events. We will hear from recent IOTS and GAGE recipients about their global health projects and the impact they have had on their careers and the communities they serve. We will also convene a panel of global neurology experts to discuss the current challenges in the field and the way forward, including discussions on how to prove the value of global neurology to lawmakers, funders, and other stakeholders.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe the current challenges facing global neurology, including the effects of changes in international funding, global health programs, and restrictions on international collaborations on education, research, and partnership activities.
- Evaluate successful models of global neurology engagement, including the ANA International Outreach Travel Scholarship (IOTS) and Grant to Activate Global Engagement (GAGE), and their impact on career development, neurology capacity building, and outcomes.
- Develop approaches to advocate for and sustain global neurology programs by engaging stakeholders and communicating the value and impact of global neurology activities.
Speakers
- (Chair) Deanna Saylor, MD, MHS, FAAN, FANA
- (Co-Chair, Panelist) Melissa A. Elafros, MD, PhD
- (Speaker, Panelist) Melody Asukile, MBChB, MMED, FC NEUROL (SA)
- (Speaker) Agatha Olago, FRCP Edin., FCP(ECSA)
- (Speaker) Namita Patel, MD
- (Speaker, Panelist) Rajarshi Mazumder, MD, MPH
- (Awardee) Natalie Smith, MD
Overview of Results from Mini Grants for African Research
Description
In 2022, the American Neurological Association (ANA) Global Engagement Committee launched a presidential initiative to strengthen bidirectional engagement between the ANA and its international members, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. The programme brought together neurologists from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia through a series of interactive networking webinars centred on research methodology, mentorship, and collaboration. To foster locally led research, pilot grants were awarded to each participating country.
In this presentation, we highlight the outcomes and impact of these pilot research projects, showcase the collaborations and opportunities they have generated, and share lessons learned from their implementation.
Through attendee discussion, we hope to explore pathways for sustaining and expanding international partnerships to advance neurological research and training across Africa and beyond.
The NSIRH Symposium on Advancing Care and Research in Spinal Cord Injury, held in Nairobi, Kenya March 2026
Description
Spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a lifelong condition with complex medical, rehabilitative, and social needs. Persons with spinal cord injury (PWSCI) constitute a distinct population whose care requirements extend across the continuum of acute management, rehabilitation, and long-term support. Despite advances in clinical practice, many PWSCI continue to experience unmet needs, particularly in relation to timely and affordable access to acute care and rehabilitation services.
The National Spinal Injury Referral Hospital (NSIRH), a specialized level 6 facility under the Ministry of Health in Kenya, is mandated to provide comprehensive SCI care and rehabilitation. In March 2026, with support from the ANA, NSIRH convened a one-day symposium entitled “Advancing Care and Research in Spinal Cord Injury.” This event brought together PWSCI, caregivers, healthcare professionals, government representatives, and civil society stakeholders to critically examine current practices, share lessons learned, and identify systemic barriers to care.
This presentation will synthesize key outcomes from the symposium, including discussions on best practices in SCI rehabilitation, challenges in service delivery, and strategies for strengthening referral pathways and linkages across sectors. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of integrated models of care that ensure continuity across the lifespan. Attendees will gain insights into the evolving landscape of SCI management in Kenya, with practical implications for policy, clinical practice, and research aimed at improving equity, access, and quality of care for PWSCI.
Report from Prior International Outreach Travel Scholarship Recipients
Description
This presentation reports on an International Outreach Travel Scholarship project examining the neurocognitive and behavioral phenotype of children with dystrophinopathies in Zambia. It reviews evidence that dystrophinopathies are associated with deficits in executive function, working memory, and visuospatial abilities, and considers how poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition may compound these findings in Sub-Saharan Africa. A single-center cross-sectional study at University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka is described, using neuropsychological assessment and caregiver focus groups. Reflections address barriers to care in low-resource settings, including transportation, stigma, and limited access to therapy and education, underscoring the value of sustained global neurology engagement.
Attendees will gain an understanding of how dystrophinopathies affect cognition and behavior, the real-world challenges faced by children and families, and the importance of global neurology partnerships, while gaining insights from Zambia that may inform clinical practice and research in underserved populations.
Report from Prior International Outreach Travel Scholarship Recipients
Description
This presentation will describe how the ANA Global Health Outreach Award was instrumental in building a durable UCLA–Uganda collaboration in epilepsy research and care.
The presentation will highlight lessons from longitudinal, community-based studies of nodding syndrome and other onchocerciasis-associated epilepsies. It will also discuss emerging efforts to structure pediatric epilepsy data and develop transparent clinical decision-support tools appropriate for resource-constrained settings.
Attendees will learn practical principles for aligning scientific questions with locally identified needs, strengthening institutional partnerships, supporting bidirectional mentorship, and planning for sustainability beyond an individual award.
Global Health in This Moment: Where do We Go From Here?
Awardee Remarks
