Marinos C. Dalakas, M.D. is a world-renowned expert in neuromuscular diseases. He was named director of the Division of Neuromuscular Diseases in the Department of Neurology and professor of Neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in 2007.
Prior to Jefferson, Dr. Dalakas was Chief of the Neuromuscular Diseases Section at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in Bethesda, MD, a position he held for more than 20 years. He first joined the staff of NINDS in 1981 and became Chief of the Neuromuscular Diseases Section in 1989.
Dr. Dalakas' research is focused on exploring the immune, viral and genetic basis of various neuromuscular, demyelinating and neuronal disorders affecting muscle, nerves or brain, and applying new therapeutic interventions via target-oriented control therapeutic clinical trials.
Dr. Dalakas also focuses his clinical work and research on rarer disorders including "stiff person syndrome," an autoimmune disease, which is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or other disorders.
As part of his neurology training, Dr. Dalakas completed a neurology residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, followed by a fellowship in neuromuscular diseases at the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, MD. He then completed a senior staff fellowship in neurovirology and neuroimmunology at NINDS.
Dr. Dalakas is an author or co-author of more than 470 scientific papers or chapters in peer-review journals. He has also edited 11 books and monographs and currently serves on the editorial board of several journals including Brain; Muscle and Nerve; BMC Neurology; and Neuromuscular Disorders. Up until 2005, he was on the editorial board of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. He is the recipient of a number of honors and awards, including the:"¢ U.S. Public Health Service Special Recognition Award"¢ NIH Director's Award"¢ U.S. Public Health Service Special Recognition Award"¢ Duchenne-Erb-Prize, by the Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Bekampfung der Muskelkrankheiten e. V. (DGBM) (German Association for Neuromuscular Diseases and German Academy of Neurology)"¢ Ramsay Lectureship and Ramsay Medal by the Ramsay Society of London, the University of Glasgow and the World Federation of Neurology"¢ 2002 Gaetano Conti Prize for Clinical Research"¢ Bench-to-Bedside Award from the Clinical Center, NIH, 2002, 2003"¢ 2007 Plenary Lecturer at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology
Dr. Dalakas also holds a patent on an immunotoxin for the treatment of focal movement disorders.
Board certified in neurology and psychiatry, Dr. Dalakas is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, as well as a member of the American Neurological Association, the European Neurological Society and the World Muscle Society. He is also a Diplomate of American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
He received a doctor of medicine degree in 1972 from the Medical School of the National University of Athens, Greece.