Dr. Josep Dalmau is a world-renowned neurologist and leading authority in neuroimmunology and autoimmune neurological disorders. He currently serves as ICREA Research Professor at IDIBAPS (Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer) - Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, and Adjunct Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. After receiving his MD and PhD from the Autonoma University of Barcelona, he completed specialized training in Neuro-oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. With over 25 years of professional experience in the United States before returning to Barcelona, Dr. Dalmau has established himself as a pioneer in the field of autoimmune neurological disorders.
Dr. Dalmau's groundbreaking research identified a new category of immune-mediated diseases against synaptic receptors that cause severe neurologic and psychiatric syndromes, beginning with his seminal discovery of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis reported in 2007. His work has transformed the understanding of autoimmune encephalitis, revealing how antibodies against neuronal cell-surface proteins, ion channels, and synaptic receptors lead to neurological dysfunction. This research has had profound clinical implications, enabling accurate diagnosis and targeted immunotherapy for patients previously misdiagnosed with psychiatric disorders or viral encephalitis. With over 320 publications in leading journals, his work is among the most cited in neuroimmunology, fundamentally reshaping clinical approaches to autoimmune neurological conditions worldwide. His discoveries have established a new paradigm for understanding immune-mediated brain disorders.
As Director of the Clinical and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis Neuroimmunology group at IDIBAPS and leader of the Neuroimmunology Unit at SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, Dr. Dalmau has built a world-class research program that bridges basic science and clinical practice. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, shaping the discourse in his field through scholarly publication. His current research focuses on understanding disease mechanisms, identifying biomarkers, and developing novel therapeutic strategies for antibody-mediated neurological disorders through multiple funded projects. Dr. Dalmau continues to mentor the next generation of neuroimmunologists while advancing translational research that promises to further improve diagnostic precision and treatment outcomes for patients with autoimmune neurological conditions.
