Dr. Dalmau received his MD, PhD from Autonoma University of Barcelona.  He trained in Neuro-oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and then joined the faculty. After 11 years, he became co-director of Neuro-oncology, University of Arkansas. In 2002 he was named Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently he is ICREA Research Professor, IDIBAPS-Clinic Hospital, Associate Professor Medicine, University of Barcelona, Adjunct Professor Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, and Guest Researcher, NIH, USA. He is Editor of Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, and member of many academic societies including the National Academy of Medicine, USA. He has received numerous awards, including the Jacoby Award (American Neurological Association), the Zülch Prize (Max Planck Society), and Premio Rey Jaime I (Spain). Since 2015 he is listed as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics.

Research interests

My research focuses on immune-mediated diseases of the nervous system. Although this work initially focused on cancer associated (paraneoplastic) disorders, it evolved with our discovery of a category of diseases named autoimmune encephalitis. These diseases occur in association with antibodies against neuronal cell-surface proteins, ion channels, or synaptic receptors involved in synaptic transmission and plasticity. Antibody-mediated changes in the structure or function of these antigens result in several different syndromes characterized by psychosis, epilepsy, memory deficits, abnormal movements, sleep dysfunction, or cognitive decline. My research group carries out translational studies including the identification of novel diseases (e.g., anti-NMDAR encephalitis among others), the development of diagnostic tests and treatment strategies, as well as basic studies aimed at elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the immune-mediated brain dysfunction.