Led by Aleksandra Djukic, MD, PhD, a pioneer and world-renowned expert in Rett Syndrome from our Department of Neurology, Montefiore Einstein is among an elite group of 18 International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF)-designated Centers of Excellence in the nation, providing best-in-class clinical care and leading research and clinical trials to expand the possibilities of treatment for individuals suffering from Rett syndrome. 

We are also one of only 21 sites in the nation and the only site in New York State that participated in the pivotal LAVENDER trial, a multicenter, randomized placebo-controlled trial investigating the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of trofinetide in the treatment of Rett Syndrome, which resulted in the first and only FDA-approved drug for the treatment of Rett syndrome in March 2023. 

Individuals with Rett syndrome, a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder affecting mostly girls and one of the most severe neurological diseases, often present with a broad spectrum of debilitating symptoms. We are among the few centers in the nation offering multidisciplinary Rett syndrome care. Our unique and growing multidisciplinary clinical care team, comprising fourteen specialists from seven different departments, was recruited to address the complex needs of each child and adult suffering from Rett syndrome. Our team includes renowned specialists in pediatric neurology, epileptology, movement disorders, cardiology, gastroenterology, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedic surgery, genetics, intensive care, nephrology, endocrinology, dentistry, and speech language pathology/communication.