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Dr Carla Abdelnour
Name:
Dr Carla Abdelnour
Job title:
Neurologist
Place of work / study:
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Area of Research:
Neurodegenerative diseases
How is your work funded:
National funding by the Carlos III Health Institute
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a physician-scientist interested in clinical research and dementia advocacy. My long-term goal is to develop a biologically based framework for personalized diagnosis and treatment of mixed neurodegenerative dementias, particularly Lewy body dementia (LBD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Over more than ten years of clinical practice and research, I have witnessed the profound heterogeneity of these disorders and the urgent need for molecular tools that capture co-pathology and predict clinical trajectories. My research program integrates clinical phenotyping, fluid biomarkers, and high-dimensional proteomics to identify mechanisms underlying disease heterogeneity and progression.
Beyond research, I am strongly committed to mentoring, teaching, and advocacy. At Stanford University, I mentor junior researchers Alena Smith, who won Best Student Poster at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2024 and co-authored a manuscript under review; and Hillary Vossler, who presented amyloid PET findings in Lewy Body Dementia at international conferences. I also mentor Marc Castillo, a Master’s student in Neuroscience at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and previously lectured on Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease at the International University of Catalonia (2019–2021).
I have served on two PhD commitees, demonstrating recognition of my expertise and contribution to training the next generation of researchers. I actively advocate for Lewy Body Dementia patients as a Board Member of the Lewy Body Dementia Association and Scientific Committee member of Lewy Body España. From 2023 to 2025, I founded and led a Spanish-language Parkinson’s disease support group in the San Francisco Bay Area, providing education and resources through monthly meetings.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I love learning new things and adding hobbies to my list. In particular, I like travelling, making my own clothes, and I’m currently learning to play the guitar
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
Because I want to understand how our brain works and what makes us who we are
What single piece of advise would you give to an early career researcher?
Search for your “why”. Be aware of your ultimate purpose and motivation; that will be your compass during your research journey
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
Crucial conversations. Yes, I totally recommend it
Favourite film of all time?
Start Wars episode III
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
Listening to music and going to the beach
What’s the best decision you ever made?
Marry my husband
What’s your favourite vacation spot?
Anywhere if I’m with my husband
Do you collect anything?
Nope, but I have too many fabrics. I don’t collect them, but I buy them with the hope of making clothes
