×

Keynote speaker

Dr. Sara Long-Gagné

Transition

---

Dr. Long-Gagné completed her medical school at the University of Ottawa and her pediatric residency at the University of British Columbia. She then went to McGill University for a specialization in complex care medicine and a master’s degree in epidemiology.

Subsequently, she joined the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) as a pediatrician with a particular interest in advancing care for children with complex health conditions.

She is one of the leaders of the new Intermediate Complexity Coordination and Navigation Service(CONCI) and co-director of the Spina Bifida service at the MCH.

She is also involved in research and medical education projects aimed at improving health services for children with chronic diseases.

×

Keynote speaker

Prof Dr Alexander von Gontard

Mental Health

---

Alexander von Gontard is a child and adolescent psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and pediatrician. He has published widely on incontinence, chronic medical conditions, disabilities, and mental health in children and adolescents.

He is affiliated with the Governor Kremers Centre in Maastricht, contributing to interdisciplinary research and policy discussions, and serves as an advisor to the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, supporting mental health, psychosocial care, and rights-based approaches.

His work promotes an integrative approach to child and adolescent mental health, combining biological, developmental, and psychosocial perspectives.

×

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Marie-Pierre Fournier-Gosselin

Hydrocephalus

---

Dr. Marie-Pierre Fournier-Gosselin is a neurosurgeon specializing in functional neurosurgery at the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). She completed her medical training at Laval University, neurosurgery specialization at the University of Sherbrooke, and additional training in Toronto and Portland, Oregon.

She provides neuromodulation therapies for refractory neurological conditions and works closely with neurology teams on movement disorders, trigeminal neuralgia, and normotensive hydrocephalus.

Dr. Fournier-Gosselin is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Université de Montréal and director of the neurosurgery training program, overseeing the Fellowship in Functional Neurosurgery at CHUM.

She is also involved in research at CR-CHUM, supervising projects on trigeminal neuralgia and pain biomarkers in Parkinson’s disease, and co-investigates the MinPHI initiative on idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

×

Roundtable Hydrocephalus 360°

---

Clinical Care – Research – Innovation – Lived experience

×

Transition & Life Course Care

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Laurence Veilleux (7)
• Melissa Goktogan (20)
• Abby Varghese (37)
• Yakob Seman Ahmed (45)

Keywords : Spina Bifida – Independence – Transition to Adult Care – Patient Support – Family-Centred Care – Patient Empowerment – Self-Management – Education – Multidisciplinary Care – Rehabilitation

×

Prevention & Public Health

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Mathilde Barbeau (9)
• Ann Paal (38)
• Maman You Espérance Broalet (15)
• Eduardo Tizzano (50)

Keywords : Spina Bifida – Neural Tube Defects – Folic Acid – Prevention – Women’s Health – Pregnancy – Risk Factors – Public Health – Health Education – Screening

×

Bladder, Bowel & Continence Care

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Afolabi Fajemilo (3)
• Nebiyat Tesfaye (19)
• Sneha Sawant (14)
• Sandhya Maurya

Keywords : Spina Bifida – Continence – Continence Care – Children and Young People – Urinary Incontinence – Patient Outcomes – Multidisciplinary Care – Independence – Quality of Life – Caregiver Education

×

Country Updates I

With special guest: Danny Lamb

---

Canada, Nigeria, Estonia, India, US, France, Colombia, Senegal, Montenegro.

×

Coloplast: Advancing neurogenic bowel care with transanal irrigation

---

Transanal irrigation (TAI) – Peristeen Plus – Neurogenic bowel – Fecal incontinence – Chronic constipation

×

Roundtable: Human Rights

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Vanessa-Anne Paré & Laurence Leser (30)

Keywords : UNCRPD – Global Disability Rights – Inclusion & Accessibility – Human Rights – Policy Implementation – Social Participation – Equity – Lived Experience – International Collaboration – Disability Advocacy

×

Hydrocephalus

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Diana Gray (26)
• Ali El Jamal (12)
• Amy Huang (34)
• Marc-Antoine Gobeil (28)

Keywords : Hydrocephalus – iNPH – Diagnosis – Treatment – Shunt Therapy – Imaging – Gait – Functional Outcomes – Clinical Assessment – Patient Monitoring

×

Country Updates II

---

Canada, Ireland, Norway, Luxemburg, UK, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Germany, Slovakia.

×

Research, Innovation & Data

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Antoinette Botman (25)
• Richard Finnell (31)
• Sahrish Masood (35)
• Elizabeth Zimmermann (54)

Keywords : Spina Bifida – Hydrocephalus – Treatment – Clinical Outcomes – Surgery – Pediatric Care – Functional Outcomes – Patient Outcomes – Long-Term Outcomes – Research

×

Urology & Kidney

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Gianluca Sampogna (8)
• Lyudmil Ninov (49)
• Brad E Dicianno (17)
• Sonia Thakur (29)

Keywords : Spina Bifida – Neurogenic Bladder – Urological Care – Clean Intermittent Catheterization – Continence – Renal Function – Quality of Life – Multidisciplinary Care – Patient-Centred Care – Long-Term Care

×

 

---

 

×

Rehabilitation & Functional Recovery

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Priya Sayal (33)
• Anne Jougit (40)
• Chris Toelle (10)
• Sandra Sanchez (6)

Keywords : Spina Bifida – Pediatric Rehabilitation – Mobility – Gait Analysis – Multidisciplinary Care – Functional Outcomes – Assistive Devices – Patient-Centred Care – Quality of Life – Clinical Assessment

×

Panel - Designing Mind friendly environments Environments for People Living with Hydrocephalus — Enhancing Accessibility and Well-Being

---

Speaker (Abstract No.):

• Stella-Marie Tselepi (24)

Keywords : Hydrocephalus – Universal Design – Accessibility – Mind-Friendly Environments – Cognitive Accessibility – Sensory Accessibility – Inclusive Environments – Lived Experience – Independence – Community Participation

×

 

---

 

×

Inequalities & Human Rights

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Lyudmil Ninov (18)
• Julie Fontaine (16)
• Swara Madav (11)
• Marine Gailhard (51)

Keywords : Accessibility – Social Participation – Inclusion – Quality of Life – Independence – Empowerment – Health Equity – Community Engagement – Advocacy – Participation

×

Surgical & Clinical Interventions

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Alina Korsak (42)
• Volodymyr Likhodiievsky (44)
• Antoine Welniarz (21)

Keywords : Closed Spinal Dysraphism – Tethered Cord Syndrome – Neurosurgery – Diagnosis – Multidisciplinary Care – Pelvic Dysfunction – Rehabilitation – Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation – Sensory-Motor Function – Quality of Life

×

 

---

 

×

Sponsored session - GAIN - From Prevention to Lifelong Outcome: Food Fortification and Folic Acid

---

Folic Acid – Food Fortification – Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) – Staple Foods – Preconception Health – Public Health Equity – Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

×

 

---

 

×

 

---

 

×

Roundtable: SBH & Employment

---

Speaker (Abstract No.):

• Laurence Perreault-Rousseau (46)

Keywords : Hydrocephalus / Spina Bifida Community – Employment Inclusion – Workplace Accessibility – Invisible Disabilities – Reasonable Accommodations – Fatigue Management – Cognitive Challenges – Self-Advocacy – Social Participation – Quality of Life

×

PingPong Session: Genetics

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Richard Finnell & Eduardo Tizzano (57)

Keywords : Spina Bifida Genetics – Neural Tube Defects – Gene-Environment Interaction – Multifactorial Risk – Genetic Counselling – Genetic Testing – Folic Acid Prevention – Recurrence Risk – Personalised Care – Patient Education

×

Youth Forum

With special guests: Danny Lamb & Ina Åkerberg

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Danny Lamb & Ina Åkerberg (56)

Keywords : Youth Leadership – Self-Advocacy – Peer Support – Lived Experience – Empowerment – Community Engagement – Social Inclusion – Participation – Advocacy Skills – SBH Community

×

Workshop: Mental Health for Parents & Caregivers

---

Mental Health – Parents and Caregivers – Emotional Wellbeing – Peer Support – Resilience – Family-Centred Care – Lifespan Support – Independence – Caregiver Education – SBH Community

×

Quality of Life, Obesity & Lifestyle

---

Speakers (Abstract No.):

• Charlotta Levén Andréasson (48)
• Jennifer Tudor (27)
• Sandhya Maurya (43)
• Carylyn Lim (32)
• Sonia Thakur (39)

Keywords : Sleep-Disordered Breathing – Sleep Screening – Nutrition – Obesity – Weight Management – Mental Health – Depression – Quality of Life – Pediatric Care – Multidisciplinary Care

×

 

---