This annual event brings together international leading experts on various topics on brain development. Held in May 2024, this year's event explored Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, in which clinical and basic neuroscientists have provided new opportunities for future advances of this rare genetic disease. We look forward to hosting our next gathering in spring 2025.
Recorded Presentations
Former Head, Paediatric Neurosciences Unit, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy
Presentation: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Advances in genetics, neuropathology, and targeted therapy
Recent advancements in understanding tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) have revealed insights into the genetic basis involving TSC1 and TSC2 genes, leading to mTOR complex overactivation. Dr. Curatolo’s presentation will discuss potential disease-modifying strategies and targeted therapies for epilepsy and associated neurodevelopmental disorders in infants and young children.
Presentation: EEG in TSC: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
EEG has been a fundamental tool in diagnosing and managing seizures in patients with TSC. This presentation will briefly address the wide range of findings of patients with TSC at different stages in life and how it helps in guiding therapy.
Presentation: Genetic testing in Tuberous Sclerosis
This talk will review the current state of genetic testing for patients with TSC and clinical implications for managing patients and families. This will include discussion of limitations of genetic testing and different molecular mechanisms.
Presentation: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Neuropathological Overview
This talk will review the classical neuropathological findings in the brains of patients with TSC, ranging from malformations to neoplastic disease. Overlapping histopathological changes and genetic aberrations between TSC and other epileptogenic brain diseases will be discussed.
Professor, Paediatrics, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary
Slides appear at time 2:35

About Dr. Harvey Sarnat, MD, FRCPC
The Harvey B. Sarnat Lectureship and Mini-Symposium is hosted by
Dr. Harvey B. Sarnat, a world-renowned physician and scientist
in child neurology. Dr. Sarnat is a Paediatric Neurologist and
Neuropathologist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. He is also a
professor of Paediatric Neurology and Neuropathology at the
University of Calgary where his focused research interests are
in neuroembryology and developmental neuropathology, fetal
and neonatal neurology, and brain pathology in paediatric epilepsy.
This special lecture and symposium is supported by the Dr. Harvey B. Sarnat Lectureship in Brain Development through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Explore previous talks
Recordings from the 2023 Dr. Harvey B. Sarnat Lectureship and Mini-Symposium can be found in the drop down menu under each speaker's name.
Dr. Khorshid Mohammad, MD, Clinical Professor, Paediatrics, UCalgary, announced the "Harvey Sarnat Clinical Research Fellowship in Neonatal Neurocritical Care"
Professor, Claude Bernard Lyon University
Fetal Neuroradiologist & Fetal Imaging Section Head, Hospital Femme Mère Enfant
Talk Title: A set of etiological diagnostic tools to elucidate "unexplained" ventriculomegaly
Clinical Professor, Professor, Paediatrics, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Talk Title: Embryology and Pathogenesis of disorders of forebrain commissures
Associate Professor & Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Talk Title: Brain connectivity and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Adjunct Research Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Talk Title: Clinical aspects of agenesis/dysgenesis of the corpus callosum
Fetal Neuroradiologist & Fetal Imaging Section Head, Hospital Femme Mère Enfant
Talk Title: Prenatal Imaging Diagnosis of Corpus Callosum Anomalies:
From routine ultrasound to prenatal neuro-imaging and prenatal counselling
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Talk Title: MRI cases from ACH of callosal agenesis/dysgenesis