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Prof. dr. Gisela M. Terwindt

Neurologist-biologist

Gisela Terwindt is professor of Neurology, in particular paroxysmal brain disorders, at the department of Neurology of the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC). She is director of the Leiden Headache Center and deputy head of the Neurology department. She is chair of the International Headache Society (IHS) Clinical Guideline Committee and the Women’s Leadership Forum. In addition she is board member and chair of the Scientific Committee the Dutch Headache Society. She chaired the Headache Treatment guideline Committee for the Dutch Neurology Society, and was committee member for the International Headache Classification, and board member of the IHS. She has published ≈350 scientific papers and book chapters on headache, migraine, and hereditary neurovascular syndromes. She received a prestigious personal grant from the Dutch Research Council (VIDI).

My research interests lie in unravelling neurobiological and molecular triggering mechanisms leading to migraine attacks, and identifying treatment targets for the acute treatment and prevention of attacks and disease chronification. In addition, I am studying the pathogenesis of rare monogenic disorders such as FHM (familial hemiplegic migraine) and CHA (Cerebral Hereditary Angiopathies) which may serve as genetic models to study the pathogenesis of migraine but also improve mechanistic insight into the pathophysiology of other common neurovascular disorders, including stroke and dementia. With this, I am increasingly involved in the relationship between migraine and stroke with a special focus on women, and I have a particular interest in studying female-specific trigger factors and complications in migraine.

Publications

An up-to-date overview of prof. dr. Terwindt’s publications can be found here:

Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum

t.a.v. Hoofdpijnonderzoek

Postzone K5Q-110

Postbus 9600

2300 RC Leiden