Saumel Ahmadi, MD, PhD, has been appointed instructor of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Ahmadi earned an MD from Saurashtra University in India and a PhD in Genetics and Physiology from The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto before joining WashU Medicine for his pediatric neurology residency and a fellowship in epilepsy. His main areas of interest are Wolfram syndrome, epilepsy and rare genetic neurologic conditions including neurodegenerative conditions and channelopathies. In addition to Neurology, Ahmadi is affiliated with the WashU Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS).
Ahmadi specializes in research and clinical work that aims to develop treatments for pediatric patients that are based on the genetic underpinnings of the rare neurodegenerative conditions that are impacting their lives and development. While working on his PhD, Ahmadi gained experience using patient-specific tissue to develop personalized drugs for patients with rare diseases. As he continued his training, he moved fully into translational research focusing on drug discovery and assay development at the level of the individual, not just at the level of the disease.
As a pediatric neurologist specifically, Ahmadi finds it incredibly fulfilling to be able to have an impact on children’s brain development. “Not only is the brain a sensitive organ that is greatly affected by even very subtle genetic and environmental changes, but brain development in the first five years of life is crucial to how an individual is able to function for the rest of their lives,” said Ahmadi. “Personalized interventions early on in life can help children with rare diseases reach their maximum potential, even if their disease cannot be completely cured.”
In recognition of his accomplishments and potential as a physician-scientist, Ahmadi was awarded a KL2 grant from the NIH in 2025 and was selected as one of ten Young Investigators for 2025 by Uplifting Athletes, an organization that partners with university and professional athletes to promote awareness about and raise research funds for rare diseases. The annual Young Investigator Draft is part of the organization’s “ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers.”
Since 2024, Ahmadi has served as a core member of the committee responsible for generating international consensus guidelines for patients with Wolfram syndrome. Ahmadi also serves as co-investigator for clinical trials related to Wolfram syndrome and pediatric migraine headaches.
As a resident, fellow and now instructor, Ahmadi cited the “excellent clinical services provided to a wide variety of patients, and WashU being the home to some of the top leaders in neurology” as his reasons for why he loves being a part of WashU Neurology. When he is not working, Ahmadi can be found on the running trails or driving range in Forest Park or playing chess at the Saint Louis Chess Club.