Paediatric Neurology

Division of Paediatric Neurology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa, is a specialist academic unit affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand, a public research university established in 1922. Based within one of the largest tertiary hospitals in Africa, the division delivers subspecialist care while advancing training and research in child neurology.

Research centers on genetic neuromuscular disorders, congenital hypotonia, and spinal muscular atrophy, with notable contributions clarifying the burden and molecular spectrum of STAC3-related myopathy in African populations. Work on bone health in chronic illness and glucocorticoid exposure informs clinical monitoring practices in vulnerable children.

The unit also reports impactful studies on neuroinfectious and inflammatory conditions, including rare parasitic CNS infections, COVID-19 related neurological syndromes, and acute necrotising encephalopathy. Through clinically grounded investigations, the division strengthens evidence relevant to sub-Saharan Africa and shapes context-specific diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.