Associate Professor at Colorado State University, United States
Dr. Stephanie McGrath is a distinguished veterinary neurologist and researcher at Colorado State University , serving as Associate Professor and Service Lead in Neurology. She is also the Director and Co-Founder of CSU’s Brain Research Center , where she leads pioneering studies on epilepsy, cognitive decline, and healthy aging in dogs. Internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on cannabidiol (CBD) in veterinary neurology , she has published influential studies that have transformed clinical approaches to neurological disorders in animals. Beyond research, she is deeply committed to teaching the next generation of veterinarians , contributing to both education and global scientific advancement. Dr. McGrath plays a vital role in the Dog Aging Project , exploring therapies to enhance canine lifespan and brain health. With a blend of clinical expertise, innovative research, and compassionate care , she continues to make a lasting impact on veterinary medicine and the lives of pets worldwide.
Professional Profile
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Education
Dr. Stephanie McGrath academic journey reflects a lifelong dedication to veterinary neurology and clinical science . She began with a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University laying the foundation for her future in science and medicine. she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University , gaining essential clinical skills for animal healthcare. Her passion for advanced research led her to pursue a Master of Clinical Science at Colorado State University in where she began focusing on neurological conditions in animals. she achieved Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology) , marking her as a board-certified specialist in the field. This combination of elite academic training and professional certification has provided her with the expertise to lead innovative research, mentor veterinary students, and develop groundbreaking treatments for neurological diseases in companion animals .
Experience
Dr. Stephanie McGrath has cultivated an extensive career in veterinary neurology, blending clinical expertise, research, and leadership . She began as a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Intern at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, followed by a Neurology Specialty Internship at VCA Alameda East . Her residency in Neurology at solidified her expertise, after which she briefly served as Staff Veterinarian in Highlands Ranch. Returning to CSU, she advanced from Assistant Professor to Tenure-Track Assistant Professor , and now Associate Professor and Service Lead in Neurology . She also co-leads the TRIAD Neurology Arm of the Dog Aging Project , and is Director & Co-Founder of the Brain Research Center. Her career reflects a balance of patient care, academic teaching, and cutting-edge neurological research.
Research Interest
Dr. Stephanie McGrath research focuses on advancing veterinary neurology through innovative treatments and translational science . She specializes in epilepsy, canine cognitive dysfunction, and the role of cannabidiol (CBD) in neurological disease management . Her studies explore how CBD can be safely and effectively used for drug-resistant epilepsy, brain aging, and neuroprotection in dogs. She is deeply involved in neuroimaging (including diffusion tensor imaging) to better understand brain structure and function in aging canines . As a leader in the Dog Aging Project, she examines how therapeutic interventions like rapamycin may improve lifespan and cognitive health in pets. Her broader interests include neuro-oncology, neurodegenerative disorders, and biomarkers for early detection of neurological disease . Through this work, Dr. McGrath bridges human and animal medicine, aiming to develop therapies that enhance both veterinary and comparative neurology, ultimately improving quality of life for animals and potentially humans .
Award and Honor
Dr. Stephanie McGrath career is distinguished by numerous prestigious awards recognizing her impact on veterinary neurology . she received JVIM’s “Top Cited Article” Award for her groundbreaking CBD epilepsy studies and Veterinary Ophthalmology’s “Top Cited Article” Award for ocular CBD research, her student’s work on canine cognitive decline biomarkers earned the Association for Clinical and Translational Science Poster Award . She won the George Fleming Prize in for the year’s most meritorious article in The Veterinary Journal . Her mentorship has led students to multiple first-place awards in clinical and poster presentations , while she herself has received the Zoetis Award for Research Excellence . She has delivered keynote speeches at major scientific events and earned recognition for innovative neuroimaging, cannabinoid research, and translational veterinary science . These accolades highlight her leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing veterinary medicine.
Research Skill
Dr. Stephanie McGrath possesses a diverse and advanced set of research skills in veterinary neurology and translational science . She is highly experienced in clinical trial design, particularly large-scale studies assessing CBD and other therapeutics for neurological conditions . Her expertise includes neuroimaging techniques such as MRI and diffusion tensor imaging , enabling precise evaluation of structural and functional brain changes. She is adept at biomarker identification for early disease detection and tracking of neurodegenerative progression . Dr. McGrath excels in comparative neurology, translating findings from canine models to benefit human medicine as well. She has strong capabilities in data analysis, scientific writing, and mentoring research teams, fostering the next generation of veterinary scientists . Her work integrates clinical expertise, innovative methodologies, and collaborative research leadership, positioning her as a driving force in the advancement of both veterinary and comparative neuroscience .
Publication Top Notes
Title: Randomized blinded controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of oral cannabidiol administration in addition to conventional antiepileptic treatment on seizure frequency in …
Authors: S. McGrath, L.R. Bartner, S. Rao, R.A. Packer, D.L. Gustafson
Journal: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 254(11), 1301-1308
Year: 2019
Cited by: 236
Title: Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol administered by 3 delivery methods at 2 different dosages to healthy dogs
Authors: L.R. Bartner, S. McGrath, S. Rao, L.K. Hyatt, L.A. Wittenburg
Journal: Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 82(3), 178-183
Year: 2018
Cited by: 190
Title: Evaluation of the effect of cannabidiol on naturally occurring osteoarthritis-associated pain: a pilot study in dogs
Authors: S. Mejia, F.M. Duerr, G. Griffenhagen, S. McGrath
Journal: Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 57(2), 81-90
Year: 2021
Cited by: 101
Title: A report of adverse effects associated with the administration of cannabidiol in healthy dogs
Authors: S. McGrath, L.R. Bartner, S. Rao, L.R. Kogan, P.W. Hellyer
Journal: Veterinary Medicine, 1, 6-8
Year: 2018
Cited by: 92
Title: Scientific validation of cannabidiol for management of dog and cat diseases
Authors: I. Corsato Alvarenga, K.S. Panickar, H. Hess, S. McGrath
Journal: Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 11(1), 227-246
Year: 2023
Cited by: 58
Title: Cannabidiol induces apoptosis and perturbs mitochondrial function in human and canine glioma cells
Authors: C. Gross, D.A. Ramirez, S. McGrath, D.L. Gustafson
Journal: Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 725136
Year: 2021
Cited by: 52
Title: Metagenomic investigation of idiopathic meningoencephalomyelitis in dogs
Authors: L.L. Hoon‐Hanks, S. McGrath, K.L. Tyler, C. Owen, M.D. Stenglein
Journal: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 32(1), 324-330
Year: 2018
Cited by: 52
Title: Cannabis in veterinary medicine: a critical review
Authors: T. Hazzah, C. Andre, G. Richter, S. McGrath, F. Collins
Journal: AHVMA, 61(220), 25
Year: 2020
Cited by: 42
Title: Cannabidiol in canine epilepsy
Authors: H. Potschka, S.F.M. Bhatti, A. Tipold, S. McGrath
Journal: The Veterinary Journal, 290, 105913
Year: 2022
Cited by: 37
Title: Clinical and imaging findings, treatments, and outcomes in 27 dogs with imaging diagnosed trigeminal nerve sheath tumors: a multi‐center study
Authors: K.E. Swift, S. McGrath, M.W. Nolan, M. Young, M. Reese, S. Rao, E. Randall, …
Journal: Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, 58(6), 679-689
Year: 2017
Cited by: 36
Title: The effects of iatrogenic blood contamination on total nucleated cell counts and protein concentrations in canine cerebrospinal fluid
Authors: A.L. MacNeill, B.G. Andre, Y. Zingale, R.A. Packer, S. McGrath
Journal: Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 47(3), 464-470
Year: 2018
Cited by: 30
Title: Drug-drug interaction between cannabidiol and phenobarbital in healthy dogs
Authors: C.E. Doran, S. McGrath, L.R. Bartner, B. Thomas, A.E. Cribb, D.L. Gustafson
Journal: American Journal of Veterinary Research, 83(1), 86-94
Year: 2022
Cited by: 27
Title: The efficacy and safety of cannabidiol as adjunct treatment for drug‐resistant idiopathic epilepsy in 51 dogs: A double‐blinded crossover study
Authors: A.J. Rozental, B.G. Weisbeck, I. Corsato Alvarenga, D.L. Gustafson, …
Journal: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 37(6), 2291-2300
Year: 2023
Cited by: 23
Title: Tolerability of long‐term cannabidiol supplementation to healthy adult dogs
Authors: I. Corsato Alvarenga, K.M. Wilson, S. McGrath
Journal: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 38(1), 326-335
Year: 2024
Cited by: 21
Title: Reprogramming the canine glioma microenvironment with tumor vaccination plus oral losartan and propranolol induces objective responses
Authors: D.T. Ammons, A. Guth, A.J. Rozental, J. Kurihara, A.J. Marolf, L. Chow, …
Journal: Cancer Research Communications, 2(12), 1657-1667
Year: 2022
Cited by: 21
Title: Generation of neural progenitor cells from canine induced pluripotent stem cells and preliminary safety test in dogs with spontaneous spinal cord injuries
Authors: L. Chow, S. McGrath, C. de Arruda Saldanha, L.R. Whalen, R. Packer, S. Dow
Journal: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 575938
Year: 2020
Cited by: 20
Title: Pharmacokinetics of escalating single‐dose administration of cannabidiol to cats
Authors: A.J. Rozental, D.L. Gustafson, B.R. Kusick, L.R. Bartner, S.C. Castro, S. McGrath
Journal: Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 46(1), 25-33
Year: 2023
Cited by: 19
Title: Plasma and joint tissue pharmacokinetics of two doses of oral cannabidiol oil in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)
Authors: A.P. Spittler, J.E. Helbling, S. McGrath, D.L. Gustafson, K.S. Santangelo, …
Journal: Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 44(6), 967-974
Year: 2021
Cited by: 18
Title: Targeting neuroinflammation by pharmacologic downregulation of inflammatory pathways is neuroprotective in protein misfolding disorders
Authors: S.J. Risen, S.W. Boland, S. Sharma, G.M. Weisman, P.M. Shirley, A.S. Latham, …
Journal: ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 15(7), 1533-1547
Year: 2024
Cited by: 16
Title: Use of handheld Raman spectroscopy for intraoperative differentiation of normal brain tissue from intracranial neoplasms in dogs
Authors: C.E. Doran, C.B. Frank, S. McGrath, R.A. Packer
Journal: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 819200
Year: 2022
Cited by: 16
Conclusion
Dr. Stephanie McGrath reflects an exceptional and sustained contribution to veterinary medicine, particularly in advancing the understanding and therapeutic application of cannabidiol in animals. Her studies cover a wide range of topics including pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, and mechanistic insights of cannabidiol across multiple species, with results published in high-impact veterinary and biomedical journals. The citation record is impressive, with several landmark papers exceeding , underscoring the global influence and applicability of her work. Beyond cannabinoid research, she has contributed significantly to neuro-oncology, neuroinflammation, advanced diagnostic tools, and regenerative medicine in veterinary science. This breadth, coupled with translational relevance, innovation, and consistent scholarly output, positions her as a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her research not only advances scientific knowledge but also has direct implications for improving clinical outcomes in animal health.