How do I  bind current data to a dropdownlist in a  ASP.Net datagrid

<asp:DataGrid
  ID="dgrdTitles"
   onItemDataBound="GridDataBound"
   DataKeyField="ID"
   AutoGenerateColumns="False"
   OnEditCommand = "dgrdTitles_EditCommand"
  OnUpdateCommand = "dgrdTitles_UpdateCommand"
  OnCancelCommand = "dgrdTitles_CancelCommand"
ETC ....
 
	<asp:TemplateColumn
HeaderText="Status"
FooterText = "Status">
 
<ItemTemplate>
<%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "Status")%>
</ItemTemplate>
<EditItemTemplate>
<asp:DropDownList
ID="DropdownList1"
AutopostBack = "False"
Runat="server">
<asp:ListItem Value="Open"/>
<asp:ListItem Value="Closed"/>
</asp:DropdownList>
</EditItemTemplate>
</asp:TemplateColumn>
 
Private Sub GridDataBound(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As DataGridItemEventArgs)
If e.Item.ItemType = ListItemType.Item Or e.Item.ItemType = ListItemType.AlternatingItem Or e.Item.ItemType = ListItemType.EditItem Then
 
 
 
Dim DDL as DropDownList
Dim txtST1 as textbox
Dim intStat as Integer
Dim Item as ListItem
DDL = CType(e.Item.FindControl("Dropdownlist1"), DropDownList)
'strStat is the current status of the DB field caled "status defined and found earlier in the sub.
'Object reference not set to an instance of an object. THIS IS THE ERROR REPORTED AT THE LINE BELOW
Item = DDL.Items.FindbyValue(StrStat)
 
If not Item is nothing then Item.selected = "true"
 
End If
End Sub