Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Conference 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

9:00am CDT

Participate in Research - Homonymous Hemianopia/Spot Driving Hazards

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT

Researchers from the Bowers Lab at Harvard University would like to learn more about how people with visual field loss use their vision to notice potential hazards in real world situations such as walking or driving.
The study involves playing a simple video game which simulates driving, shown on a computer screen. Participants will use a steering wheel to steer their virtual car while watching out for pedestrian hazards. Participants will be asked to respond whenever they see a pedestrian about to cross the road. There will be plenty of time to get used to the video game and to practice steering and responding to pedestrians.

Researchers are recruiting people with a history of hemispherectomy, hemispherotomy, temporal-pariental-occipital disconnection or resection, or total occipital lobectomy, who are at least 14 years of age.

Study participation involves:

One session, about 1.5 hours
Vision measures
Video game simulating driving (presented on a computer screen)
Brief questionnaire

Inclusion criteria:

Visual field loss (such as hemianopia)
14 years or older
Able to control a steering wheel with either one or both hands
Able to concentrate for at least 10 minutes without a break
Sufficient stamina to participate in a study session lasting about 1.5 hours with breaks
Either some experience of driving or no experience of driving

Participants will receive $50 for study participation.

To sign up to be considered for this study, complete our Research Interest Form here.

Speakers

Alex Bowers, PhD

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Bowers Lab, Harvard University

Dr. Bowers is a clinician scientist whose primary focus is vision rehabilitation research. She has made significant contributions to the field as an optometrist in the United Kingdom, as well as an educator and researcher. Dr. Bowers is a highly accomplished clinical scientist focused... Read More →

Jing Xu, PhD

Faculty Researcher, Bowers Lab, Harvard University

Dr. Jing Xu is a faculty researcher dedicated to enhancing the safety and independence of the visually impaired community. Her tenure in the lab has seen her grow from postdoctoral fellow to faculty, building from her experiences as a Bosma Research Associate at the Envision Research... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Salon I

In-Person Research

9:00am CDT

Participate in Research - Vision Processing

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT

Salon G

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh's Behrmann Lab would like to understand

how children and adults who have had a large cortical resection to one hemisphere of the brain

during childhood process visual, auditory and language functions that usually require two full

hemispheres.

The two studies are as follows:

Monitoring eye movements while participants view visual images and listening to sentences over headphones;
Assessing whether images from different visual categories shown on a computer screen are the same or different, and examining spatial abilities e.g. searching for a star among many figures on a page and drawing simple shapes

Participant Requirements

Had hemispherectomy, hemispherotomy, or disconnection or resection to one hemisphere during childhood (age 0 - 17);
Are at least age six. Adults who had surgery in childhood can participate as well;
Must be able to speak verbally, sit in a chair for at least 20-25 minutes (per study), follow instructions like looking at pictures or movies on a screen or listening to sentences, and make decisions by pressing a button.

To sign up to be considered for this study, complete our Research Interest Form here

Speakers

Maria Z. Chroneos

Graduate Student, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh

Maria Chroneos is interested in how brain networks organize across development to support cognitive and functional behavior. She is particularly interested in reorganization and plasticity in individuals with neurological disorders, injuries, and other disruptions to these processes... Read More →

Marlene Behrmann, PhD

Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Behrmann is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Psychology/Neuroscience Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. Widely considered to be a worldwide leader in the field of visual cognition, she was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences in 2015 and into the Ame... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Salon G

In-Person Research

9:00am CDT

Participate in Research - Visual Processing

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT

Salon F

A full description of this research is here.

Speakers

Maria Z. Chroneos

Graduate Student, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh

Marlene Behrmann, PhD

Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Salon F

In-Person Research

9:00am CDT

Participate in Research - Homonymous Hemianopia/Spot Driving Hazards

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT

Salon I

See full description and how to sign up here.

Speakers

Alex Bowers, PhD

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Bowers Lab, Harvard University

Jing Xu, PhD

Faculty Researcher, Bowers Lab, Harvard University

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Salon I

In-Person Research

9:00am CDT

Participate in Research - Understanding the Family Perspective on Epilepsy Surgery

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT

Expo Hall

Researchers are conducting a first-of-its-kind study to understand the "real world" experience of families navigating the epilepsy surgery journey. While most research happens in doctors' offices, this study focuses on your voice within the patient advocacy community. Your insights will help us identify barriers to care and what matters most to families when making surgical decisions.

Speakers

Ruba Al-Ramadhani, MD

Associate Director, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Dr. Al-Ramadhani is a board-certified Pediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist, currently serving as the Program Director of the Child Neurology Residency Program and Associate Medical Director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Expo Hall

In-Person Research

9:00am CDT

Participate in Research - Visual Processing

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT

Salon F

A full description of this research is here.

Speakers

Maria Z. Chroneos

Graduate Student, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh

Marlene Behrmann, PhD

Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Salon F

In-Person Research

9:00am CDT

Participate in Research - Visual Processing

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT

Salon G

A full description of this research is here.

Speakers

Maria Z. Chroneos

Graduate Student, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh

Marlene Behrmann, PhD

Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Salon G

In-Person Research

9:00am CDT

Participate in Research - Global Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Registry

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - Saturday July 18, 2026 5:00pm CDT

Expo Hall

Doctors know the medical side of surgery, but you are the expert on your child’s daily life. This registry is a way for parents to share how their children are doing months or years after surgery. By answering a few questions, you help researchers understand how surgery affects things like learning, moving, and long-term health.

Instead of trying to fill out forms on your phone in a noisy hallway, we’ve created a calm space for you to contribute to this important research.

Total Privacy: We have a dedicated room where you can complete the registry questions away from the crowds.
Everything is Ready: We provide the iPad and a comfortable place to sit so you can work at your own pace.

Who can use the room?

Any parent or guardian whose child (age 0 - 18) who has had epilepsy surgery (or is currently being evaluated for it) is welcome to stop by.

Ready to complete the registry now?

You can participate in the registry from the comfort of your own home. All you need is internet access and a compiter, tablet, or smart phone.

🔗 GET STARTED

Sign-up form coming soon

Speakers

Monika Jones

Founder + Executive Director, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance

Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - Saturday July 18, 2026 5:00pm CDT
Expo Hall

In-Person Research

10:00am CDT

Participate In Research - Family Perspectives About Epilepsy Surgery

Friday July 17, 2026 10:00am - 5:00pm CDT

Expo Hall

Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Study: Share Your Family’s Journey

Researchers are seeking to understand the "real-world" experiences of families navigating pediatric epilepsy surgery. By gathering perspectives from the patient advocacy community, this study aims to identify barriers to care and uncover what matters most to families when making surgical decisions.

How to Participate: Stop by the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh table at the expo to learn more. The questionnaire can be completed online at your convenience, from anywhere.

Speakers