Merveen Appu, M.D.

Bio

Dr. Merveen Appu is a board-certified pediatric neurologist and epileptologist at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, where he joined the Division of Pediatric Neurology in September 2026. He has more than a decade of experience caring for children and teens with epilepsy, neurocutaneous disorders such as neurofibromatosis type 1, autoimmune encephalitis and other complex neurological conditions.

Before joining Rady Children's, Dr. Appu was Medical Director of Neurology and Director of the Neurocutaneous Syndromes Clinic at Valley Children's Healthcare.

Dr. Appu earned his MBBS from Madras Medical College in Chennai, India, and a Master of Science in Pharmacy from Oregon State University. He completed his pediatrics residency at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and his child neurology fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

His research interests include pediatric epilepsy, neurocutaneous syndromes, autoimmune encephalitis, disorders of consciousness, NMDA receptor function and neurodegenerative disorders, and he has published peer-reviewed work in these areas. He also teaches pediatric and neurology trainees, and works closely with families throughout their child's care.