Dr. Xavier Montalban is a neurologist and one of the most internationally recognized figures in the fields of clinical neurology, neuroimmunology, and translational research. He serves as Medical Director of Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, President of Fundació Cemcat, Vice President of Fundació Esclerosi Múltiple, Co-President of the European Charcot Foundation, and Professor of Neurology at Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC).
For more than three decades, he worked at Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, where he served as Head of the Neurology Department, Director of the Centre d’Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), and Head of the Neuroimmunology Research Group at the Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca. From 2017 to 2020, he was Professor of Neurology and Director of the Division of Neurology at the University of Toronto, as well as Medical Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at St. Michael’s Hospital. During this period, he spearheaded the development of the BARLO MS Centre, now considered one of the world’s most advanced centers for multiple sclerosis care and research.
He has held senior leadership roles in major international organizations in his field. He is a former President of ECTRIMS, has chaired the International Medical and Scientific Board of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, and has served on the Steering Committee of the International Progressive MS Alliance. He co-led the first ECTRIMS-EAN European guidelines on the treatment of multiple sclerosis and is the lead author of the 2024 revision of the McDonald diagnostic criteria.
He has authored more than 800 scientific publications, participated as a principal investigator or collaborator in over 150 clinical trials, and has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher for eight consecutive years. His major honors include the 2022 John Dystel Prize, the 2023 Charcot Award, and the 2024 Fundación Lilly Award for Clinical Biomedical Research.
He brings to Ace extensive expertise in medical leadership, the development of multidisciplinary care models, biomarkers, early diagnosis, precision medicine, and the development of new treatments. As Medical Director, he works closely with Dr. Mercè Boada and the multidisciplinary team at Ace to further integrate clinical care, research, and clinical trials, and to advance earlier, more personalized, and innovative care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
