Dr. Harvey B. Sarnat Lectureship and Mini-Symposium

​Named in honour of Dr. Harvey B. Sarnat, MD, this annual lecture and mini-symposium brings together international leading experts on various topics on brain development.

​2026 Keynote Speaker:

​Dr. Joseph Gleeson, MD
Rady Professor of Neurosciences and Pediatrics, University of California San Diego

In honor of Dr. Sarnat's foundational discoveries in neuroscience, Gleeson will present key findings in the neurodevelopmental and structural brain disorder field. Starting with the discovery of causes for conditions like 'double cortex', microcephaly, polymicrogyria, Joubert syndrome, and extending to focal brain dysplasia and spina bifida, the mechanisms are revealed to be diverse and far-ranging. These studies uncover fundamental insight into human central nervous system development and function, and offer opportunities for the first time to consider therapeutics, both to treat and ultimately prevent pediatric brain disease.

​This event is supported by the Dr. Harvey B. Sarnat Lectureship in Brain Development fund through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. This year's lecture will be hosted online (Zoom).