Colin M. Roberts, M.D., FAES

  • Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, School of Medicine
  • Burpee Family Endowed Professor of Pediatric Epilepsy
  • Doernbecher Childhood Epilepsy Program
  • OHSU Pediatric Comprehensive Epilepsy Center

Biography

Dr. Roberts joined the OHSU faculty in 2001 and developed the Doernbecher Childhood Epilepsy Program, now the core of the OHSU Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center, the only level 4 pediatric epilepsy center in Oregon. 

He has a specific clinical interest in the diagnosis and care of children with complex, treatment-resistant epilepsy. He has been involved in many clinical trials investigating novel therapies for epilepsy, including recent early-phase gene therapies, and oversees the clinical research team.

Education and training

  • Degrees

    • B.A., 1989, Wesleyan University
    • M.D., 1995, Jefferson Medical College

  • Residency

    • Neurology/Child Neurology, University of Pennsylvania/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2000
    • Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital/AI DuPont Institute, Philadelphia, 1997

  • Fellowship

    • Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2001

  • Certifications

    • Neurology with special qualifications in Child Neurology
    • Epilepsy, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Memberships and associations:

  • American Epilepsy Society, Fellow

Areas of interest

  • Pediatric epilepsy
  • Epilepsy surgery and EEG monitoring
  • Clinical research exploring novel epilepsy therapies

Publications

Elsevier pure profile

Selected publications

  • Zorevunersen in Children and Adolescents with Dravet Syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine  March 5, 2026. Laux L, Sullivan J, Perry MS, Brunklaus A, Desurkar A, Schreiber J, Roberts CM, Knupp K, Wheless J, Wirrell E, Ventola P, Wang F, Meena, Lynch J, Parkerson K, Ticho B, Cross H, on behalf of the MONARCH and ADMIRAL, and SWALLOWTAIL and LONGWING study groups. 
  • Add-On Cannabidiol Treatment for Drug-Resistant Seizures in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical TrialJAMA Neurology March, 2021Thiele E, Bebin E, Bhathal H, Jansen F, Kotulska K, Lawson J, O’Callaghan F, Wong M, Sahebkar F, Checketts D, Knappertz V, GWPCARE6 Study Group (Roberts C). 
  • Effect of Cannabidiol on Drop Seizures in the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine May 17, 2018. Devinsky O, Patel AD, Cross JH, Villanueva V, Wirrell EC, Privitera M, Greenwood SM, Roberts C, Checketts D, VanLandingham KE, Zuberi SM; GWPCARE3 Study Group.
  • Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine May 25, 2017. Devinsky O, Cross JH, Laux L, Marsh E, Miller I, Nabbout R, Scheffer IE, Thiele EA, Wright S; Cannabidiol in Dravet Syndrome Study Group (Roberts C) 
  • Focal cortical dysplasia is more common in boys than in girls. Epilepsy Behavior April, 2013. Ortiz-Gonzalez XR, Poduri A, Roberts CM, Sullivan JE, Marsh ED, Porter BE. 
  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Partial and Generalized Epilepsy from Infancy to Adolescence. Journal of Neurosurg Pediatrics September, 2012. Thompson EM, Wozniak SE, Roberts CM, Kao A, Anderson VC, Selden NR. 
  • Ethosuximide, valproic acid, and lamotrigine in childhood absence epilepsy. New England Journal of Medicine March 4, 2010. Glauser TA, Cnaan A, Shinnar S, Hirtz DG, Dlugos D, Masur D, Clark PO, Capparelli EV, Adamson PC. Childhood Absence Epilepsy Study Group (Roberts C). 
  • Transendoscopic intraoperative recording of gelastic seizures from a hypothalamic hamartoma. Pediatric Neurosurgery. 2011. Roberts CM, Thompson EM, Selden, NR.
  • Focal seizure propagation in the intracranial EEG. Epilepsy Research January, 2011. Jenssen S, Roberts CM, Gracely EJ, Dlugos DJ, Sperling MR.
  • Skull-fixated fiducial markers improve accuracy in staged frameless stereotactic epilepsy surgery in children. Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics January, 2011. Thompson EM, Anderson GJ, Roberts CM, Hunt MA, Selden NR.
  • Qualitative comparison of 3T and 1.5T MRI in the evaluation of epilepsy. AJR American Journal of Roentgenology September, 2008. Phal P, Usmanov A, Nesbit G, Anderson, J, Spencer D, Wang P, Helwig J, Roberts C, Hamilton, BE 
  • Cerebral blood flow heterogeneity in preterm sheep: Lack of physiological support for vascular boundary zones in fetal sheep cerebral white matter. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism May, 2008. McClure M, Riddle A, Manese M, Luo N, Rorvik D, Kelly K, Barlow C, Kelly J, Vinecore K, Roberts C, Hohimer AR, Back, SA.
  • Stopping seizure medications in children: when is it safe? Neurology June 28, 2005. Spencer DC, Roberts CM.