Roy N Alcalay

Roy N Alcalay, MD, MS is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He serves as Columbia's movement disorders fellowship director and is an active member of both the American Academy of Neurology and the Movement Disorder Society. His clinical work focuses on movement disorders with special expertise in Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Alcalay's research primarily investigates the genetics and epidemiology of Parkinson's disease, with particular emphasis on biomarkers and genetic risk factors. His work has established important connections between Gaucher disease mutations (particularly GBA) and Parkinson's disease risk, as well as examining LRRK2 mutations in Ashkenazi Jewish populations. His research demonstrates how genetic factors influence disease presentation, progression, and cognitive outcomes in Parkinson's patients.

Analysis of Dr. Alcalay's publications reveals a strong focus on genetic aspects of Parkinson's disease, particularly regarding GBA and LRRK2 mutations. His work spans from basic genetic epidemiology to clinical applications, including biomarker discovery and understanding genotype-phenotype correlations. Recent publications show increasing emphasis on neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the development of diagnostic tools for Parkinson's disease.

• National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Brookdale Foundation
• Parkinson's Disease Foundation
• Michael J Fox Foundation
• Smart Foundation

As director of Columbia's movement disorders fellowship program, Dr. Alcalay mentors the next generation of movement disorder specialists. His research has been supported by numerous significant grants including NIH K02 and K12 awards, Brookdale Leadership in Aging Fellowship, and multiple Michael J Fox Foundation grants. His work has contributed substantially to understanding genetic risk factors in Parkinson's disease, particularly among Ashkenazi Jewish populations, and has implications for genetic counseling and targeted therapies.