The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode hosted by Krissy Dilger of SRNA, we met Dr. Grace Gombolay and Dr. Varun Kannan, both from Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, designated Centers of Excellence in Rare Neuroimmune Disorders. Dr. Kannan discussed learning alongside families as conditions like MOG antibody disease emerged clinically and his focus on tailoring treatment and supporting clinical trials in a field with few approved therapies [03:37]. Dr. Gombolay outlined her research on biomarker development, a Children’s biobank, advanced MRI collaborations, and participation in the Network of Pediatric MS Centers covering disorders such as MOGAD, NMOSD, optic neuritis, ADEM, and TM [06:36]. They described their multidisciplinary clinic team, highlighted home infusions and telemedicine to reduce burden, and shared personal self-care strategies [10:22]. Dr. Gombolay and Dr. Kannan expressed hope for more trials, remyelination, prevention, and earlier diagnosis aided by AI prompts [20:43].

You can view Dr. Grace Gombolay's medical profile here:

https://www.choa.org/doctors/grace-gombolay

You can view Dr. Varun Kannan's medical profile here:

https://www.choa.org/doctors/varun-kannan

Grace Gombolay, MD, MSc, FAAN is an Associate Professor at Emory University and Director of the Pediatric Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Her research interest involves biomarker development in pediatric neuroinflammatory diseases including autoimmune encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, MOGAD, and NMOSD.

Varun Kannan, MD graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in 2017. He then completed child neurology residency in 2022, followed by pediatric neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in 2023. He returned to Emory and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in 2023, where he has worked closely with Dr. Grace Gombolay in the neuroimmunology program. He is interested in clinical research regarding severe/relapsing forms of rare neuroimmune disorders including autoimmune encephalitis and MOGAD. He is currently involved in multiple upcoming phase 3 clinical trials exploring new disease modifying treatments for pediatric rare neuroimmune disorders. He is also passionate about medical education and is currently one of the Associate Program Directors for the Emory child neurology residency.

00:00 Welcome

01:56 Dr. Grace Gombolay's Journey

03:37 Dr. Varun Kannan's Path

05:06 Kannan's Research Focus

06:36 Biomarkers and Biobank

10:22 Clinic Team and Care

13:44 Self Care and Balance

16:15 Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

20:43 Hopeful Future Ahead

24:49 Closing