Research and Innovation

In our effort to provide the very latest, exceptional care to individuals with neurological conditions on their reproductive journey, our care team conducts novel research on various neurological conditions in pregnancy. We often are a part of multicenter research studies, bringing the very latest clinical trials to our patients.

We work with national and worldwide organizations to develop national guidelines and standards of care. One such organization is the Epilepsy in the Childbearing Ages through Menopause Consortium (ECAM). As a global leader in ECAM, our epileptologist oversaw the Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (NEAD) and the Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (MONEAD) studies, which resulted in multiple publications that provided new information on management of epilepsy during pregnancy, such as the identification of anti-seizure medications that pose a risk for the fetus, resulting in improved care for our patients.

Research studies

The following are recently completed and published research studies on neurology and pregnancy from our care team:

• Association of Epilepsy and Severe Maternal Morbidity. Danielle M. Panelli, Stephanie A. Leonard, Peiyi Kan, Kimford J. Meador, Thomas F. McElrath, Kelly F. Darmawan, Suzan L. Carmichael, Deirdre J. Lyell, Yasser Y. El-Sayed, Maurice L. Druzin, Tiffany C. Herrero.
• Contemporary Management of Epilepsy in Pregnancy. Kelly F. Darmawan, Danielle M. Panelli.
• Increased Primary Cesarean Delivery Rate Among People With Epilepsy: Risks, Drivers and Future Directions. Kelly F. Darmawan, Stephanie A. Leonard, Kimford Meador, Thomas F. McElrath, Suzan L. Carmichael, Deirdre J. Lyell, Yasser Y. El-Sayed, Tiffany Herrero, Maurice L. Druzin, Danielle M. Panelli.
• Increased Rates of Postpartum Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Readmissions in People with Epilepsy. Kelly F. Darmawan, Stephanie A. Leonard, Kimford Meador, Thomas F. McElrath, Suzan L. Carmichael, Deirdre J. Lyell, Yasser Y. El-Sayed, Tiffany Herrero, Maurice L. Druzin, Danielle M. Panelli.
• Changes in Seizure Frequency and Antiepileptic Therapy during Pregnancy. Page B. Pennell, MD, Jacqueline A. French, MD, Ryan C. May, PhD, Elizabeth Gerard, MD, Laura Kalayjian, MD, Patricia Penovich, MD, Kimford J. Meador, MD, et al.; MONEAD Study Group.
• Fetal antiepileptic drug exposure and cognitive outcomes at age 6 years: A prospective observational study (NEAD study). KJ Meador, GA Baker, N Browning, MJ Cohen, RL Bromley, J Clayton-Smith, LA Kalayjian, A Kanner, JD Liporace, PB Pennell, M Privitera, DW Loring; NEAD Study Group.
• Breastfeeding in children of women taking antiepileptic drugs: Cognitive outcomes at age 6 years (NEAD study). KJ Meador, GA Baker, N Browning, MJ Cohen, RL Bromley, J Clayton-Smith, LA Kalayjian, A Kanner, JD Liporace, PB Pennell, M Privitera, DW Loring.
• Prospective Cohort Study of Depression During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period in Women With Epilepsy vs. Control Groups. Kimford J Meador, Zachary N Stowe, Carrie Brown, Chelsea P Robalino, Abigail G Matthews, et al.; MONEAD Investigator Group.
• Cognitive Outcomes at Age 3 Years in Children with Fetal Exposure to Antiseizure Medications (MONEAD study) in the USA: A Prospective, Observational Cohort Study. Kimford J Meador, MD, Morris J Cohen, EdD, David W Loring, PhD, Abigail G Matthews, PhD, Carrie Brown, MS, Chelsea P Robalino, MStat, et al.
• Two-Year-Old Cognitive Outcomes in Children of Pregnant Women With Epilepsy in the Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs Study. Kimford J. Meador, MD; Morris J. Cohen, EdD; David W. Loring, PhD, et al.
• Behavioral Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Among Children of Women With Epilepsy (MONEAD study). MJ Cohen, KJ Meador, DW Loring, AG Matthews, C Brown, CP Robalino, AK Birnbaum, PE Voinescu, LA Kalayjian, et al.
• Magnesium for Treatment of Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome: Case Series. Christina Mijalski, Katarina Dakay, Cameron Miller-Patterson, Ali Saad, Brian Silver, Muhib Khan.
• Stroke in Pregnancy. Christina Mijalski Sells, Steven K Feske.
• Improving Reproductive Neurological Care. Addie Peretz, MD, Cessa Heinzman, MEd, Kathleen Carey Minor, MD, Kristine Lundeen, MN, RN, Stephanie Tran, BS, Christina Mijalski Sells, MD, MPH.
• Impacts of Race and Immunotherapy on Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Pregnant Patients with NMOSD and MOGAD. Audrey Hla, MD; Tara Sakar, BS, Jamie McDonald, MD, MS, May Han, MD.
• Safety of Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Acute Migraine Treatment in Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Controlled Survey-Study. Addie Peretz, MD, Alit Stark-Inbar, PhD, Dagan Harris, PhD, Shira Tamir, MSc, Sharon Shmuely, MSc, Alon Ironi, MSEE, Audrey Halpern, MD, Linus Chuang, MD, Nina Riggins, MD, PhD.

Ask your obstetrician for a referral if you are seeking an evaluation from our Pregnancy Neurology Program.