Heidi Grabenstatter has dedicated her scientific career to understanding the underlying mechanisms of epilepsy and identifying potential therapeutics to inhibit the disease progression. After receiving a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Colorado State University, Dr. Grabenstatter has spent over a decade conducting scientific research at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and the University of Colorado Boulder using a multidisciplinary approach to better understand the mechanisms that contribute to the development and progression of epilepsy and associated comorbidities.

Her commitment to epilepsy research is strengthened by her personal understanding of the extreme challenges that people with epilepsy face. She was diagnosed at age 5 with temporal lobe epilepsy which has been refractory to both medical and surgical therapies. Based on both her academic interests and personal experience with the disease, Heidi is committed to translational research to improve the lives of people with epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

The combination of her passion, her academic experience, and her patient perspective make Dr. Grabenstatter uniquely positioned to act as a conduit between patients and caregivers with unmet needs and the CDKL5 clinical and research communities to foster innovative research solutions. In her free time, Heidi enjoys spending time with her family. She is the proud mom of three kids, Maggie, Harvey, and Sam.