Developing Brain Clinical Research Colloquium 2025

Now in its fourth year, the colloquium brings together clinical research activities across The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network psychiatry, psychology, neurology and neurosciences to strengthen and extend collaborations.

This year’s program highlights three key themes: Innovation, Rare Diseases, and Intellectual Disability, and will feature a keynote address by Professor Nadia Badawi on neonatal encephalopathy.

The program will also feature talks from leading experts, including Professor Russell Dale, Dr Kasia Kozlowska, Professor Wendy Gold, and Professor Michelle Farrar.

COLLOQUIUM PROGRAM

9:00am: Acknowledgement of Country and Opening remarks

• Dr Iain Perkes, Director of Kids Mental Health Research

9:10am: Keynote speaker address

• Prof Adam Jaffe,  John Beveridge Professor of Paediatrics, Head of Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, Director of Rare Diseases NSW, UNSW Sydney; and Respiratory Consultant, Acting Head, Respiratory, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick. 

9:45am: Keynote speaker address

• Prof Nadia Badawi AM, Medical Director, Grace Centre for Newborn Care, Neonatal encephalopathy

10:20am: Morning tea

10:50am: Session One - Innovation

• Chair: Dr Iain Perkes, Director of Kids Mental Health Research

• Prof Russell Dale, Clinical Director, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research and Paediatric Neurologist, The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Presentation: 'Epigenetics and neurodevelopment'

• Dr Kasia Kozlowska, Clinical Academic and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Presentation: 'Functional Neurological Disorder'

• Dr Cybele Dey, Paediatrician and Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick. Presentation: 'Climate and child mental health'

12:20pm: Lunch

1:00pm: Session Two - Rare diseases

• Chair: Prof Adam Jaffe,  John Beveridge Professor of Paediatrics, Head of Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, Director of Rare Diseases NSW, UNSW Sydney; and Respiratory Consultant, Acting Head, Respiratory, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick. 

• Dr Carolyn Arico, Senior Research Officer, University of Sydney. Presentation: 'Estimating the population prevalence of rare diseases in children using administrative health data'

• A/Prof Wendy Gold, Head, Molecular Neurobiology Research, Kids Research. Presentation: 'Reimagining treatment modalities for neurodevelopmental disorders through the lens of Rett syndrome'

• Prof Michelle Farrar, Paediatric Neurologist, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, and Professor of Paediatric Neurology UNSW Sydney. Presentation: 'Childhood dementia'

• Megan Maack, Director and CEO, Childhood Dementia Initiative. Presentation: 'Rare Disease Research and Lived Experience'

• Panel discussion with Dr Carolyn Arico, A/Prof Wendy Gold, Prof Michelle Farrar and Megan Maack, chaired by Prof Adam Jaffe

2:45pm: Afternoon tea

3:10pm: Session Three - Intellectual disability

• Chair: A/Prof Natalie Silove, Head of Child Development Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead

• A/Prof Rebecca Koncz, Chair, Intellectual Disability Mental Health, UNSW Sydney. Presentation: 'Intellectual Disability and Mental Health'

• Dr Natalie Ong, Developmental Behavioural Paediatrician, The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Presentation: 'Improving healthcare quality for children with disability'

• Panel discussion with A/Prof Rebecca Koncz, Dr Natalie Ong and Dr David Dossetor chaired by A/Prof Natalie Silove, Head of Child Development Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead

4:30pm: Closing remarks

This program is subjected to change without notice.

The Developing Brain Clinical Research Colloquium is organised by the Scientific Committee, featuring Prof Russell Dale, Prof Michelle Farrar and Dr Iain Perkes, with additional support from University of Sydney and University of NSW, Sydney.