Positions

Assistant Professor

Pediatrics
Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas United States

Education

Residency at Baylor College 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 Baylor College of Medicine

06/2024 - Houston, Texas United States

Pediatric Neuroimmunology

Honors & Awards

Chief Resident, 2021-2022

Baylor College 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 Baylor College 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 Baylor College 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 "Advances in understanding Rett syndrome and MECP2 duplication syndrome: prospects for future therapies.." The Lancet Neurology. 2020 Aug 1;19(8):689-698. Pubmed PMID: 32702338
• Alexander J Sandweiss, Varun Kannan, Nilesh K Desai, Stephen F Kralik, Eyal Muscal, Kristen S Fisher "Arterial Spin Labeling Changes Parallel Asymmetric Perisylvian and Perirolandic Symptoms in 3 Pediatric Cases of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis." Neur: Neuroimmunol & Neuroinflamm. 2023 Apr;10(4) Pubmed PMID: 37094999
• Alexander J Sandweiss, Jonathan Rosen, Chaitanya Aduru, Akansha Chandrasekar, Kyla Blasingame, Madhuri Chilakapati, Rod Foroozan, Jonathan M Yarimi "MOGAD optic neuritis after mild head/orbital trauma in six children." J Neuroimmunol. 2025 Jul;15(404) Pubmed PMID: 40187047
• Alexander J Sandweiss, Timothy A Erickson, Yike Jiang, Varun Kannan, Jonathan M Yarimi, Jesse M Levine, Kristen Fisher, Eyal Muscal, Gail Demmler-Harrison, Kristy O Murray, Shannon E Ronca "Infectious profiles in pediatric anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis." J Neuroimmunology. 2023 Jun; Pubmed PMID: 37364517

Memberships

American Academy of Neurology

Child Neurology Society

American Academy of Pediatrics

Texas Neurological Society

Texas Pediatrics Society

American Physiological Society

Funding

Assessing the burden of post-HSV meningoencephalitis induced NMDAR encephalitis in children

( 08/01/2023 - 07/31/2024 )

Grant funding from Texas Neurological Society

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

Underpinnings of racial and ethnic diversity in pediatric autoimmune encephalitis

( 09/01/2022 - 08/31/2023 )

Grant funding from Alpha Omega Alpha

Resident Research Award

( 01/01/2023 - 12/31/2023 )

Grant funding from American Academy of Neurology