Dr. Heiman-Patterson is the Director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders and a Professor in the Department of Neurology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. She directs the MDA/ALS Center of Hope, including the clinical and laboratory research programs. Her career has always been dedicated to research in neuromuscular diseases, most recently in ALS or Lou Gehrigs Disease. She has received more than a dozen grants to do both basic and clinical research in ALS along with other neuromuscular diseases. Under her direction, the Center of Hope has conducted clinical trials testing more than 20 different experimental treatments, while basic research is conducted using the SOD1 mouse model at the ALS Hope Foundation laboratory at Temple University School of Medicine. The laboratory uses this model to study genes that can modify the severity of the disease as well as examine whether novel treatments can extend lifespan. In addition, the lab is focused on developing new models of motor neuron disease.

Dr. Heiman-Patterson is also committed to optimizing clinical care at the MDA/ALS Center through the multidisciplinary approach to care along with clinical research directed at extending survival and improving the quality of life. This work has led to studies that examine how to maximize the use of non-invasive ventilation (bipap) as well as better address nutritional needs. She has also initiated a program to develop the BCI (Brain computer interface) for home-based use by people living with ALS in order to allow an increased independence. Finally, she is funded to examine ways to reduce care giver burden in families where the person living with ALS has cognitive involvement. She serves as Co-Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) and is a member of the ALS RG, an international study group. Dr. Heiman-Patterson has published over 90 papers, abstracts, and chapters on ALS and related motor neuron diseases, along with more than 60 more on other areas of muscle and nerve disease.