Alexander Sandweiss, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Positions
- Assistant Professor
-
Pediatrics
Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience
ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States
Education
- Residency at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
- 06/2023 - Houston, Texas, United States
- Child Neurology
- MD from University of Arizona
- 05/2018 - Tucson, Arizona
- PhD from University of Arizona
- 06/2016 - Arizona, Tucson
- Pharmacology/Neuroscience
- BS from University of Arizona
- 05/2011 - Tucson, Arizona
- Physiology, Music
- Fellowship at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
- 06/2024 - Houston, Texas, United States
- Pediatric Neuroimmunology
Honors & Awards
- Chief Resident, 2021-2022
- ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
Professional Statement
Alex, originally from Phoenix, Arizona, relocated two hours south to Tucson, Arizona, where he resided for 11 years while pursuing his education at The University of Arizona. He studied physiology and music in undergrad, then began medical school and his PhD in pharmacology at The University of Arizona COM. For his PhD dissertation, Alex studied the role of the neuropeptide substance p in the neural circuitry of opioid reward, with the goal of developing a novel analgesic that lacks the potential for abuse.
Upon completion of pediatric neurology residency at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, he began pediatric neuroimmunology fellowship, during which Alex's primary focus revolved around his research interest in autoimmune diseases affecting the nervous system, with a specific emphasis on encephalitis.
He is now an Assistant Professor at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital where he runs his basic-science lab studying autoimmune neurological disorders such as encephalitis and demyelinating diseases.
Upon completion of pediatric neurology residency at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, he began pediatric neuroimmunology fellowship, during which Alex's primary focus revolved around his research interest in autoimmune diseases affecting the nervous system, with a specific emphasis on encephalitis.
He is now an Assistant Professor at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital where he runs his basic-science lab studying autoimmune neurological disorders such as encephalitis and demyelinating diseases.
Selected Publications
-
Alexander J. Sandweiss, Vicky Brandt, Huda Y. Zoghbi. " " The Lancet Neurology. 2020 Aug 1; 19 (8) : 689-698.
Pubmed PMID: . -
Kass NR, Ledbetter E, Erickson TA, Yarimi JM, Zoghbi A, Muscal E, Murray KO, Fisher KS, Sandweiss AJ. " " Pediatr Neurol. 2025 Nov ; 172 : 71-77.
Pubmed PMID: . -
Alexander J Sandweiss, Varun Kannan, Nilesh K Desai, Stephen F Kralik, Eyal Muscal, Kristen S Fisher. " " Neur: Neuroimmunol & Neuroinflamm. 2023 Apr ; 10 (4)
Pubmed PMID: . -
Alexander J Sandweiss, Jonathan Rosen, Chaitanya Aduru, Akansha Chandrasekar, Kyla Blasingame, Madhuri Chilakapati, Rod Foroozan, Jonathan M Yarimi. " " J Neuroimmunol. 2025 Jul ; 15 (404)
Pubmed PMID: .
Memberships
- American Academy of Neurology
- Child Neurology Society
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Texas Neurological Society
- Texas Pediatrics Society
- American Physiological Society
Funding
-
Chao Physician Scientist Award
- (07/01/2025 - 06/30/2026)
- Grant funding from ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
-
Junior Faculty Seed Award
- (07/01/2025 - 06/30/2026)
- Grant funding from ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine
-
Pediatric Pilot Fund
- (07/01/2025 - 06/30/2026)
- Grant funding from Texas Children's
-
Exome sequencing for the discovery of genetic determinants of pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis
- (07/01/2022 - 06/30/2024)
- Grant funding from Thrasher Research Fund
-
Evaluation of novel therapies for autoimmune encephalitis
- (01/01/2023 - 12/31/2023)
- Grant funding from Mike Hogg Fund
-
Assessing the burden of post-HSV meningoencephalitis induced NMDAR encephalitis in children
- (08/01/2023 - 07/31/2024)
- Grant funding from Texas Neurological Society
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