About PedQuEST
The Pediatric Quantitative EEG Strategic Taskforce
Our Mission
Advance Clinical qEEG
Promote the use of quantitative EEG for clinical neuromonitoring in pediatric and neonatal intensive care settings.
Identify Biomarkers
Discover and validate qEEG biomarkers that predict neurological outcomes and guide treatment decisions.
Standardize Pipelines
Develop standardized data extraction, processing, and analysis pipelines for multicenter EEG research.
Build Infrastructure
Create shared research infrastructure including cloud-based data platforms, centralized repositories, and collaborative tools.
Deliver Education
Develop and disseminate standardized qEEG education for clinicians at every level of expertise.
Promote Collaboration
Foster international, multidisciplinary collaboration across institutions, specialties, and career stages.
Our Journey
Key milestones in the formation and growth of PedQuEST.
Initial Conversations
Founding members begin discussing the need for a collaborative, multicenter approach to pediatric qEEG research.
PedQuEST Formally Established
The Pediatric Quantitative EEG Strategic Taskforce is officially formed with leadership structure, scientific committee, and founding member institutions.
PERF Partnership
PedQuEST secures support from the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation (PERF) to fund infrastructure and pilot research studies.
Research Platform Launch
The first multicenter pediatric/neonatal ICU EEG research platform goes live, integrating Persyst, Pennsieve, and REDCap into a unified data pipeline.
International Expansion
PedQuEST grows to 66+ members across 24 institutions in 4 countries, with pilot research aims actively enrolling data.
Research Platform
The first multicenter pediatric and neonatal ICU EEG research platform, built for scalable, reproducible science.
Key Innovations
Automated EEG Extraction
Persyst + Python pipeline for automated, standardized qEEG feature extraction across all sites.
Pennsieve Cloud Platform
HIPAA-compliant, cloud-based data management through the Pennsieve platform for secure EEG storage and sharing.
REDCap-Linked Clinical Data
Structured clinical and demographic data captured via REDCap and linked to EEG records for integrated analysis.
Central + Site-Based Workflows
Flexible architecture supporting both centralized processing and site-based data workflows to accommodate institutional needs.
Pilot Research Aims
Centralized EEG Database with Normative Cohort
Establish a multicenter, cloud-based EEG repository with standardized qEEG features extracted from a normative pediatric ICU cohort to serve as a shared reference for future studies.
qEEG Biomarkers Post-Cardiac Arrest
Identify early quantitative EEG biomarkers that predict neurological outcome in children following cardiac arrest, enabling earlier prognostication and targeted neuroprotective interventions.
EEG Biomarkers of NORSE/FIRES
Detect early EEG signatures and quantitative features that distinguish NORSE/FIRES from other etiologies of refractory status epilepticus, enabling more timely diagnosis and treatment.
Leadership
Co-Directors
Craig A. Press, MD, PhD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Craig is a physician-scientist who bridges the gap between EEG signal processing and bedside decision-making for critically ill children. Trained in both molecular biology (PhD, Washington University) and pediatric neurology, he completed fellowships in neurocritical care at Lurie Children's Hospital and epilepsy at Children's Hospital Colorado before joining CHOP and Penn. As Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology, he serves as Interim Section Head of Neurocritical Care and Medical Director of the Neuroscience Unit at CHOP. Craig co-founded PedQuEST to build the multicenter infrastructure he wished existed — a platform where sites can pool EEG data, validate qEEG biomarkers, and translate research into real-time clinical tools. When he's not reading EEGs or writing grants, you'll find him hiking with his family or plotting the next PedQuEST pilot study.
Giulia M. Benedetti, MD, FACNS
University of Michigan / C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
Giulia is a pediatric neurologist and neurocritical care specialist whose research is reshaping how we monitor children's brains during critical illness. She earned her MD summa cum laude from The Ohio State University, completed residency in pediatric neurology and fellowships in neurocritical care (Lurie Children's/Northwestern) and epilepsy (University of Michigan), and directed pediatric ICU EEG at Seattle Children's Hospital before returning to Michigan. Now Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Pediatric Neurocritical Care at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, she leads efforts to validate quantitative EEG as a bedside decision-making tool. Giulia serves as Site PI for two NIH R01-funded Neonatal Seizure Registry studies (NSR-GENE and NSR-DEV) and was named a Fellow of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society in 2024. As PedQuEST Co-Director, she shapes the consortium's scientific direction and mentors the next generation of investigators. Her vision: every child in an ICU should benefit from the same quality of brain monitoring, regardless of which hospital they're in.
Scientific Committee
Chaired by Dana B. Harrar, MD — Children's National Hospital
Dana B. Harrar, MD
Children's National Hospital
Scientific Committee ChairRaquel Farias-Moeller, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Scientific CommitteeAjay X. Thomas, MD, PhD
Texas Children's Hospital / Baylor College of Medicine
Scientific CommitteeAnuj Jayakar, MD
Nicklaus Children's Hospital
Scientific Committee & Education LeadRishi Ganesan, MD
London Health Sciences Centre
Scientific CommitteeSenior Scientific Advisors
Education Leads
Laura Caligiuri, MD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Anuj Jayakar, MD
Nicklaus Children's Hospital
Our Partners
PedQuEST is made possible through the generous support of our partners and donors.
Founding Supporter
Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation (PERF)
PERF provides critical funding for PedQuEST's research infrastructure, pilot studies, and educational initiatives, enabling the consortium to advance qEEG science for children worldwide.
Visit PERFPartner logos coming soon
Support Our Mission
Your contribution helps advance brain-directed care for critically ill children through qEEG research and education.
Become a DonorJoin PedQuEST
We welcome neurologists, intensivists, neurophysiologists, data scientists, and other professionals passionate about improving brain-directed care for critically ill children.
Apply to Join