Laura Mantoan Ritter

Dr. Laura Mantoan Ritter is a Consultant Neurologist and Adjunct Professor at King's College London, affiliated with the Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, School of Neuroscience, and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. Her research focuses on novel diagnostic tools and precision treatments for epilepsy, particularly super-refractory and genetic forms, including mTOR pathway diseases and New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE). She leads a National rare disease clinical and research node funded by MRC/NIHR, collaborating with Professors Joseph Bateman and Deb Pal. Her work includes developing genetic 'liquid biopsy' tools and investigating vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) for NORSE.

Key collaborations include the NORSE-UK network, a UK-wide initiative addressing NORSE's pathophysiology and treatment. She has contributed to groundbreaking studies on gene therapy, optogenetics, and seizure mechanisms, with publications in Brain, Front. Neurol., and Sci Transl Med. Clinical trials focus on comparing immunomodulatory therapies (Anakinra vs. Tocilizumab) for severe seizure disorders.

Dr. Ritter’s research integrates molecular biology, clinical neuroscience, and translational medicine, emphasizing patient-centered approaches. Her team works on establishing patient registries, iPSC lines, and tissue repositories to advance precision treatments for rare neurological conditions.