MARIO ALVAREZ, MD, MSc
Neurologist | Movement Disorders Specialist | Clinical Researcher
📧 dralvarezoffice@gmail.com | 📍 Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Neurologist with specialized expertise in movement disorders and Parkinson's disease, combining clinical excellence with translational research. Over 20 years of experience in neurological care, functional neurosurgery, and clinical trial leadership. Trilingual physician-scientist with international training and a publication record in high-impact journals.
CURRENT POSITION
Consultant Neurologist & Assistant Professor of Neurology
Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre | April 2016 – Present
• Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology • Active privileges at Moncton City Hospital • Clinical focus: General neurology with subspecialty expertise in Parkinson's disease and movement disorders • Advanced therapy experience: Deep brain stimulation, Vyalev (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa) infusion therapy
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
Master of Science in Neuroscience
Neuroscience Center, Cuba | 2008–2011
Specialty Training in Neurology
CIREN & INN, Cuba | 2001–2003
Doctor of Medicine (MD) | 1998
Diploma in Nuclear Medicine PET and SPECT in Neurology, Havana | 2013–2014
ADVANCED TRAINING & FELLOWSHIPS
Specialized Certifications
• Functional Neurosurgery for Movement Disorders • MDS-UPDRS Implementation (2011) • Nuclear Medicine (PET/SPECT) in Neurology (2013–2014) • Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Movement Disorders & Dementia Clinic
CIREN, Cuba | 2003–2015
• Led multidisciplinary team providing comprehensive care • Established protocols for functional neurosurgical interventions • Supervised clinical research programs
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Movement disorders and Parkinson's disease therapeutics • Functional neurosurgery and deep brain stimulation • Advanced therapies • Neurogenetics of spinocerebellar ataxias • Biomarkers and neuroimaging • Cognitive and non-motor symptoms assessment
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Peer-Reviewed Articles (Recent)
Saucier J, Al-Qadi M, Allain ÉP, Robichaud PP, Chamard-Witkowski L, et al. (2026). Expanding the Genetic Landscape of ATXN2 Variants: Insights from a Biallelic Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion in an Acadian Family. Neurology Genetics, 12(1), e200345.
Saucier J, Al-Qadi M, Allain ÉP, Robichaud PP, Chamard-Witkowski L, et al. (2025). Expanding the Genetic Landscape of ATXN2: Insights from a Novel Homozygous CAG Repeat Expansion at the Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 Locus in an Acadian Family. Neurology, 104(7_Supplement_1), 4539.
Ren P, Bayard JFB, Dong L, Chen J, Mao L, Ma D, Sanchez MA, Morejon DM, Bringas ML, Yao D, Jahanshahi M, Valdes-Sosa PA (2019). Multivariate Analysis of Joint Motion Data by Kinect: Application to Parkinson's Disease. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 28(1), 181-190.
Sanchez-Catasus CA, Stormezand GN, van Laar PJ, De Deyn PP, Alvarez Sanchez M, Dierckx RAJO (2017). FDG-PET for Prediction of AD Dementia in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Review of the State of the Art with Particular Emphasis on the Comparison with Other Neuroimaging Modalities (MRI and Perfusion SPECT). Current Alzheimer Research, 14(2), 127-142.
Ambrosio L, Portillo MC, Rodríguez-Blázquez C, Rodriguez-Violante M, Martínez Castrillo JC, Campos Arillo V, Garretto NS, Arakaki T, Serrano Dueñas M, Álvarez M, Pedroso Ibáñez I, Carvajal A, Martínez-Martín P (2016). Living with Chronic Illness Scale: International Validation of a New Self-Report Measure in Parkinson's Disease. NPJ Parkinson's Disease, 2, 16022.
Obeso I, Wilkinson L, Casabona E, Speekenbrink M, Bringas ML, Álvarez M, Álvarez L, Pavón N, Rodríguez-Oroz MC, Macías R, Obeso JA, Jahanshahi M (2014). The Subthalamic Nucleus and Inhibitory Control: Impact of Subthalamotomy in Parkinson's Disease. Brain, 137(5), 1470-1480.
Over 25 additional peer-reviewed publications in Movement Disorders, Journal of Neurology, European Journal of Neurology, Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, and other high-impact journals
Book Chapters
Alvarez M (2011). Alzheimer's Disease: The New Actors of an Old Drama. In: Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis: Core Concepts, Shifting Paradigms and Therapeutic Targets. InTech Open Access Publisher. ISBN 978-953-307-208-1.
Alvarez M (First Author) (2011). Clinical Guidelines: Evidence-based Care for Patients with Parkinson's Disease. Editorial Medical Sciences. ISBN 978-959-212-653-4.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
• New Brunswick Medical Society • Canadian Medical Association • Canadian Medical Protective Association
LANGUAGES
Spanish: Native English: Fluent French: Fluent
ADDITIONAL SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
Clinical trial design and implementation • Neuroimaging interpretation (MRI, PET, SPECT) • Functional neurosurgery consultation • Advanced movement disorder therapies • Multilingual patient care • Academic teaching and mentorship
References available upon request
