Shafali Jeste, M.D.
Shafali Jeste, M.D. is Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the USC Keck School of Medicine, and the Las Madrinas Chair, Chief of Neurology and Co-Director of the Neurological Institute at CHLA. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Yale University and MD from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jeste completed a residency in child neurology and a fellowship in behavioral child neurology at Boston Children’s Hospital, joined the faculty at UCLA in 2010, and then moved to CHLA in 2021 as Chief of Neurology.
Dr. Jeste’s research is focused on developing methods to improve precision in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, with particular focus on the development of brain-based biomarkers. Dr. Jeste has designed innovative studies in early predictors of autism in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) that integrate biomarkers with behavior to define atypical development prior to the onset of autism. This work in TSC led to the first randomized controlled clinical trial of behavioral
intervention for these infants and has paved the way for other early intervention trials in rare genetic syndromes. She also has led initiatives in clinical trial readiness for neurodevelopmental disorders more broadly, both in genetic syndromes and in non-syndromic autism through the National Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials. At UCLA she developed the Care and Research in Neurogenetic Syndromes (CARING) clinical program, and at CHLA the KiNDD (Kids with Neurogenetic and Developmental Disabilities) clinical program, each of which provides multidisciplinary evaluations and care for children with NDDs.
She serves on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Rare Disorders and Board of Directors of the TSC Alliance, and she recently served as the Chair of the International Baby Siblings Research Consortium. She has received the 2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for her innovations in research in early predictors and intervention for genetic neurodevelopmental disorders and the 2024 Child Neurology Society Martha Bridge Denckla Award for contributions made to the field of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Shafali Jeste, M.D. is Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the USC Keck School of Medicine, and the Las Madrinas Chair, Chief of Neurology and Co-Director of the Neurological Institute at CHLA. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Yale University and MD from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jeste completed a residency in child neurology and a fellowship in behavioral child neurology at Boston Children’s Hospital, joined the faculty at UCLA in 2010, and then moved to CHLA in 2021 as Chief of Neurology. Dr. Jeste’s research is focused on developing methods to improve precision in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, with particular focus on the development of brain-based biomarkers. Dr. Jeste has designed innovative studies in early predictors of autism in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) that integrate biomarkers with behavior to define atypical development prior to the onset of autism. This work in TSC led to the first randomized controlled clinical trial of behavioral intervention for these infants and has paved the way for other early intervention trials in rare genetic syndromes. She also has led initiatives in clinical trial readiness for neurodevelopmental disorders more broadly, both in genetic syndromes and in non- syndromic autism through the National Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials. At UCLA she developed the Care and Research in Neurogenetic Syndromes (CARING) clinical program, and at CHLA the KiNDD (Kids with Neurogenetic and Developmental Disabilities) clinical program, each of which provides multidisciplinary evaluations and care for children with NDDs. She serves on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Rare Disorders and Board of Directors of the TSC Alliance, and she recently served as the Chair of the International Baby Siblings Research Consortium. She has received the 2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for her innovations in research in early predictors and intervention for genetic neurodevelopmental disorders and the 2024 Child Neurology Society Martha Bridge Denckla Award for contributions made to the field of neurodevelopmental disorders.