The 9th Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society (SPNS) Conference and Workshops commenced in Riyadh on November 22, 2024, bringing together leading healthcare officials, clinicians, researchers, and industry experts for two days of intensive discussion on the most pressing issues in child neurology. Organized by Maarefah Management and running through November 23, the event underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing capacity to convene world-class medical expertise on its own soil, a hallmark of the Kingdom’s expanding role in global healthcare dialogue.
According to a press release issued by the SPNS, the conference features a comprehensive scientific program covering neonatal neurology, spinal muscular atrophy, neuroinflammatory disorders, neuromuscular diseases, brain and spinal injuries and infections, epilepsy, brain and spinal tumors, cerebrovascular disease, autism, movement disorders, and metabolic and genetic disorders. The breadth of topics reflects how far pediatric neurology has evolved, and how Saudi Arabia is positioning itself at the intersection of clinical care, research, and health innovation. How does a single conference in Riyadh come to matter for families and clinicians far beyond the Kingdom’s borders?
Context and Background
The Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society has steadily built a reputation as a national reference point for specialists dedicated to the developing nervous system. The annual SPNS Conference has become a fixture on the regional medical calendar, and the ninth edition arrives at a moment when pediatric neurology is undergoing rapid transformation worldwide. Advances in genetic diagnostics, neuroimaging, and machine learning are reshaping how clinicians understand and treat conditions that were once considered largely intractable.
Riyadh’s selection as the host city is consistent with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy of becoming a hub for medical conferences, specialized care, and health-sector investment. The Kingdom has invested heavily in hospital infrastructure, digital health platforms, and clinical research capacity, and events like this one serve as a demonstration of that progress. They also create opportunities for Saudi clinicians to compare notes with international peers, share data, and align treatment protocols with the best available evidence.
Why should a parent in another country pay attention to what is discussed in Riyadh this week? Because pediatric neurological conditions do not respect borders, and the insights shared at this conference, from vitamin D management in epilepsy to the use of machine learning in drug selection, have the potential to inform practice everywhere. The conference is not simply a national event; it is part of a global conversation, and Saudi Arabia is increasingly one of its most active participants.
Key Details
SPNS President Fahad Al Bashiri, professor and consultant pediatric neurologist at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, used the platform to highlight the importance of vitamin D in children’s health and the recommended dose in children with epilepsy. “Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health, muscle strength, immune function, and neurotransmission in the central nervous system in healthy children,” he said. He noted that patients with epilepsy are at high risk of developing vitamin D deficiency due to antiseizure medications, leading to impaired bone quality and increased risk of fractures.
Al Bashiri also pointed to the lack of conclusive evidence for a specific maintenance dose of vitamin D in children with epilepsy, while citing a trial approved by the institutional review board at King Saud University in which correcting vitamin D deficiency led to an increased number of seizure-free children. He reported that the treatment of 2.6 children with vitamin D deficiency was needed to increase the chances of being seizure-free, and that vitamin D treatment for adults with epilepsy led to a reduction of seizure frequency by 30% in the treatment group compared to the control group. A pilot study in adults showed a significant 40% seizure reduction post-correction of vitamin D deficiency.
Professor Mohammad Jan, Consultant of Pediatric Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology in the Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, addressed the relationship between brain tumors and seizures. “Known consequence of primary or metastatic brain tumours, presenting manifestation in 13–24% of children, the only clinical manifestation in 7%,” he said, adding that seizure control often aligns with tumor growth and can improve with tumor treatment. He noted that brain tumors are the second most common cancer types in children, with an overall annual incidence of 7 per 100,000 population.
Dr. Raidah Al-Baradie, Consultant Pediatric Neurology/Epilepsy at King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dammam, framed the global challenge of epilepsy in stark terms. “Epilepsy affects 50-70 million people worldwide, and nearly 1% of the population will have epilepsy during lifetime,” she said. She explained that patients have recurrent unprovoked seizures which are clinical manifestations of abnormal neuronal discharges, and that increased drug options have not led to better outcomes. “Patients endure recurrent seizures before the ‘right’ drug is found, and there is a need to predict response to specific drugs for individual patients,” she added.
Dr. Al-Baradie concluded with a call for innovation: “More than 30 new ASM approved in the past 30 years, no change in overall seizure freedom rate or tolerability, and one-third of patients drug-resistant, failure of the first drug is the strongest predictor of long-term outcome. Choosing ASMs remains largely trial and error for individual patients. Machine learning model may serve as a clinical decision support tool in drug selection, and prospective evaluation is needed.”
International and Regional Impact
The presence of such a broad range of topics at a single conference signals that Saudi Arabia is not merely importing medical knowledge but contributing to it. The research discussed in Riyadh, including the King Saud University trial on vitamin D and seizure control, adds to an international body of evidence that clinicians in other countries can draw upon. When Saudi institutions conduct trials and share results at forums like the SPNS Conference, they strengthen the global evidence base for pediatric neurology.
For the wider Middle East, the conference offers a model of regional cooperation. Pediatric neurologists from across the Gulf and beyond can attend, exchange experiences, and build referral networks that improve care for children with rare or complex conditions. Saudi Arabia’s central location, modern infrastructure, and commitment to hosting international events make Riyadh a natural convening point. The Kingdom’s investment in conference infrastructure and hospitality is part of a larger effort to attract global expertise and position itself as a knowledge economy.
Economic and Strategic Significance
Medical conferences are not only scientific gatherings; they are economic and strategic assets. They bring together healthcare officials, dignitaries, industry leaders, and analysts, creating opportunities for collaboration between hospitals, universities, and the private sector. The SPNS Conference, organized by Maarefah Management, reflects a professional events industry in Saudi Arabia that is maturing alongside the health sector. Such events contribute to the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to diversify its economy and develop high-value service industries.
Strategically, the conference reinforces Saudi Arabia’s commitment to improving health outcomes for its own population. Pediatric neurology is a field where early diagnosis and specialized care can transform a child’s life. By investing in this area, the Kingdom is addressing a critical need and building domestic capacity that reduces the need for families to seek care abroad. This aligns with the Vision 2030 goal of enhancing the quality of life for citizens and residents, and it supports the development of a resilient, knowledge-driven healthcare system.
Vision 2030 Alignment
The 9th SPNS Conference is a concrete example of how Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is being translated into action in the health sector. Vision 2030 calls for a diversified economy, world-class public services, and a society where citizens can thrive. A thriving pediatric neurology community, supported by conferences, research, and specialized training, is essential to that vision. The event also supports the Health Sector Transformation Program, which aims to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare across the Kingdom.
As the conference continues through November 23, the discussions in Riyadh will reverberate well beyond the meeting rooms. They will inform clinical practice, inspire new research, and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional leader in healthcare. The Kingdom’s ability to host and lead such events is a testament to its progress and its forward-looking approach to the health and well-being of future generations. In a world where pediatric neurological disorders remain a significant challenge, Saudi Arabia is showing that it is part of the solution.
20 Questions
Q1. What is the 9th SPNS Conference?
A1. The 9th Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society (SPNS) Conference and Workshops is a leading medical event held in Riyadh from November 22 to 23, 2024, bringing together healthcare officials, experts, and industry leaders to discuss pediatric neurology topics.
Q2. Who organized the conference?
A2. The conference is organized by Maarefah Management, a professional events organizer, in partnership with the Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society, which issued a press release detailing the event’s program and speakers.
Q3. Where is the conference taking place?
A3. The conference is being held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, a city that has become a hub for international medical conferences and specialized healthcare events in the region.
Q4. Who is Fahad Al Bashiri?
A4. Fahad Al Bashiri is the President of the Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society and a professor and consultant pediatric neurologist at the College of Medicine, King Saud University. He spoke about vitamin D in children’s health.
Q5. What did Al Bashiri say about vitamin D?
A5. He said vitamin D is crucial for bone health, muscle strength, immune function, and neurotransmission in the central nervous system. Children with epilepsy are at high risk of deficiency due to antiseizure medications.
Q6. What did Al Bashiri say about vitamin D dosage for children with epilepsy?
A6. He noted a lack of conclusive evidence for a specific maintenance dose. However, a King Saud University trial showed that correcting vitamin D deficiency led to more seizure-free children.
Q7. What were the results of the King Saud University trial mentioned by Al Bashiri?
A7. The trial found that treating 2.6 children with vitamin D deficiency was needed to increase chances of being seizure-free. In adults, vitamin D treatment reduced seizure frequency by 30% compared to the control group.
Q8. What is the significance of the 40% seizure reduction mentioned?
A8. A pilot study in adults showed a significant 40% seizure reduction after correcting vitamin D deficiency. This suggests that vitamin D management could be an important adjunct therapy for epilepsy patients.
Q9. Who is Mohammad Jan?
A9. Mohammad Jan is a Professor and Consultant of Pediatric Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology in the Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University. He spoke about brain tumors and seizures.
Q10. What did Mohammad Jan say about brain tumors in children?
A10. He said that seizures are a known consequence of primary or metastatic brain tumors, presenting as a manifestation in 13–24% of children and as the only clinical manifestation in 7%. Brain tumors are the second most common cancer in children.
Q11. What is the annual incidence of brain tumors in children according to Jan?
A11. The overall annual incidence is 7 per 100,000 population, making brain tumors a significant pediatric health concern that requires specialized neurological care and research.
Q12. Who is Dr. Raidah Al-Baradie?
A12. Dr. Raidah Al-Baradie is a Consultant in Pediatric Neurology/Epilepsy at King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dammam. She provided insights on epilepsy treatment and the need for personalized drug selection.
Q13. What did Dr. Al-Baradie say about the global impact of epilepsy?
A13. She stated that epilepsy affects 50-70 million people worldwide, and nearly 1% of the population will have epilepsy during their lifetime. Patients experience recurrent unprovoked seizures due to abnormal neuronal discharges.
Q14. What challenge did Dr. Al-Baradie highlight regarding epilepsy drugs?
A14. She noted that despite more than 30 new antiseizure medications approved in the past 30 years, there has been no change in overall seizure freedom rates or tolerability, and one-third of patients are drug-resistant.
Q15. What role does machine learning play in epilepsy treatment according to Dr. Al-Baradie?
A15. She suggested that machine learning models may serve as clinical decision support tools in drug selection, helping to predict individual patient responses and move away from the current trial-and-error approach.
Q16. What topics are covered at the 9th SPNS Conference?
A16. Topics include neonatal neurology, spinal muscular atrophy, neuroinflammatory disorders, neuromuscular diseases, brain and spinal injuries and infections, epilepsy, brain and spinal tumors, cerebrovascular disease, autism, movement disorders, and metabolic and genetic disorders.
Q17. Why is this conference important for Saudi Arabia?
A17. It demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s growing capacity to host world-class medical events, fosters collaboration among experts, and supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals of improving healthcare and quality of life.
Q18. How does the conference align with Vision 2030?
A18. The conference supports the Health Sector Transformation Program under Vision 2030 by promoting specialized care, research, and knowledge exchange, which are essential for a diversified and resilient healthcare system.
Q19. What is the significance of the SPNS Conference for international attendees?
A19. It offers a platform for international experts to share insights, learn about regional challenges, and collaborate on research that can improve pediatric neurology care globally, especially in areas like epilepsy and brain tumors.
Q20. What is the expected outcome of the conference?
A20. The conference aims to enhance clinical practice, inspire new research, and strengthen networks among pediatric neurologists. It reinforces Saudi Arabia’s role as a leader in healthcare and innovation in the region.
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