The Founders
In 2019, several families affected by this catastrophic diagnosis came together to form the foundation. Initiated by Seth Greenblott who hosted the first KCNT1 conference in Baltimore, the foundation has since grown to include other families and friends including Justin West and Samantha MacMechan.
Seth Greenblott
Founder
The KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation was founded in 2019 by Seth Greenblott, who is the father of two, including a daughter with KCNT1-related epilepsy. He organized the first KCNT1 Conference in Baltimore, bringing parents and scientists together. The foundation has since grown to include parent-patient advocates from around the world and the leading scientific minds working on KCNT1 related epilepsy.
Justin West, MD
President and Director of Clinical Medicine
Justin West is a physician and father of three. His youngest son Andrew was diagnosed with KCNT1 related epilepsy at 9 months of age. He is the Director of Clinical Medicine of the Foundation working with researchers and industry to identify and evaluate potential therapeutics.
Read more about Justin’s family.
Samantha MacMechan
Vice Chairman
Samantha MacMechan is a corporate executive and proud mother of a KCNT1 warrior. Her passion for supporting other parents is inspired by her daughter, Charlotte, who was diagnosed with MPEI (Migrating Partial Epilepsy of Infancy) at nine weeks of age. Since the day she and her husband received the diagnosis they refused to accept that this would be their daughter’s fate and set out to find a treatment. Samantha is committed to doing all she can to help not only Charlotte, but the many families who have struggled with receiving this devastating diagnosis.
