Bridging Clinical Complexity and Genetic Discovery
Description
In this presentation, Dr. Toro will describe the paradigm and evolution of the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program to provide answers to atypical and complex neurological presentations.
Undiagnosed Neurological Diseases: The Challenge of Atypical Clinical Presentations*
Date: October 19, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Room: Seaglass
Track: Interactive Lunch Workshop (ILW)
Session Description
Despite significant advances in diagnostic tools and disease characterization, neurologists across subspecialties continue to encounter patients with atypical or undiagnosed presentations. These complex cases—spanning neuroinflammatory to neurodegenerative conditions—often fall outside conventional diagnostic frameworks and present ongoing clinical challenges.
This session will explore potential mechanisms underlying these atypical neurological disorders, emphasizing emerging insights, diagnostic gaps, and the need for innovative approaches. Faculty will highlight the role of multidisciplinary collaboration and future research in improving recognition, classification, and management of these challenging conditions.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Analyze the clinical and societal burden of undiagnosed neurological diseases.
- Identify local and national resources to support referral and diagnostic evaluation of complex cases.
- Evaluate the role of multidisciplinary collaboration and national registries in advancing diagnosis and care.
Speakers
- (Chair) Farinaz Safavi, MD, PhD
- (Co-Chair) Albert (Gus) Davis, MD, PhD
- (Speaker) Camilo Toro, MD
- (Speaker) Avindra Nath, MD, FANA
Atypical Manifestations of Neuroinfectious Diseases
Description
In this presentation, Dr. Nath will present several cases of chronic neurodegeneration caused by viral adaptation in the brain, often in the setting of immune dysregulation.