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Center for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (CENT) Clinical Program

The CENT Clinical Program advances care for children with rare genetic disorders that affect the nervous system. 

Dr. Richard Finkel with a patient family: a mother and two daughters

The Center for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (CENT) Clinical Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital cares for children with rare, genetic neurological (nervous system) disorders. Genetic means that the disorders can result from just one small gene change, which may happen for the first time in a person, or may have been passed down through family (inherited). 

The CENT Clinical Program is led by  Richard Finkel, MD, and supported by other doctors and researchers who are experts in genetic neurological diseases. 

The program uses the latest experimental therapies from the lab to help care for your child, focusing on conditions like movement disorders, epilepsy, neuropathies, muscular dystrophies, metabolic syndromes, and other neurodevelopmental and degenerative disorders. 

Children with these disorders who are accepted at St. Jude may be eligible to take part in clinical research or clinical trials in some cases. The aim of these studies is to help scientists learn more about the disorders and to develop new treatments.  

Why St. Jude for neurological care?

A few reasons to choose St. Jude for care include:

  • St. Jude is home to the Pediatric Transitional Neuroscience Initiative (PTNI). It brings the mission of St. Jude to children living with certain neurological disorders. Scientists, doctors, patient advocates, and others work together to support these children and meet their care needs.
  • Children can get team-based care with expert neurologists, geneticists, physical therapists, neuropsychologists, and others.
  • Children and families can take part in research studies that help researchers understand how these disorders work and how people with these disorders feel and function. 
  • CENT helps us quickly test new treatments for neurological disorders. By running innovative clinical trials, we aim to find effective therapies faster. 
  • At St. Jude, we have created an environment where children can be children and families can be together. 

Care information

  • Ataxias and Movement Disorders Clinic

    The Ataxia and Movement Disorders Clinic cares for children with certain genetic disorders that affect coordination, balance, and muscle movements. Learn more.

  • Epilepsy Genetics Clinic

    Discover expert care for children with severe genetic epilepsies at the St. Jude Epilepsy Genetics Clinic, specializing in customized treatment and research.

  • Inherited Neuropathies Clinic

    The St. Jude Inherited Neuropathies Clinic provides expert care and research for children with inherited neuropathies. Learn more.

  • Muscle Disorders Clinic

    The St. Jude Muscular Dystrophies Clinic provides expert care and research for children with muscular dystrophies and myopathies. Learn more.

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders Clinic

    Find expert care for children with genetic disorders that affect motor skills, learning, and behavior at the St. Jude Neurodevelopmental Disorders Clinic.

  • Neurometabolic and Neurodegenerative Disorders Clinic

    Find expert care for children with genetic disorders that impact cellular metabolism at St. Jude Neurometabolic and Neurodegenerative Disorders Clinic.

How to seek care

St. Jude accepts most patients who meet the requirements to take part in our clinical research. A physician must refer potential patients to St. Jude.

We partner with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in providing care for some St. Jude patients with rare neurological disorders. Your child may receive some of their care at Le Bonheur. 

Clinical trials

St. Jude offers clinical trials and research studies for children, teens, and young adults with neurological disorders. 

Learn more