Dr. Alexander Shtilbans is a board certified neurologist whose clinical interest lies in the area of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease. He began his career as a molecular biologist in Neuroscience and, after obtaining his PhD, transitioned into clinical Neurology in order to work with patients and gain a better understanding of the clinical course of these diseases.
Dr. Shtilbans received his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in Neurology and served as a chief resident. Subsequently, he trained with Dr. Stanley Fahn during his clinical fellowship in Movement Disorders at Columbia University. Dr. Shtilbans has a longstanding interest in translational research and is currently involved in several clinical trials in Parkinson's Disease.
As a physician scientist, Dr. Shtilbans is interested in developing new therapies that will slow down the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. His goal is to better understand molecular mechanisms of the neurodegenerative processes by being actively involved in both clinical and basic science research.
Dr. Shtilbans serves as a co-Principal Investigator on an R01 grant from NIH to develop brain iron mapping techniques and study the role of iron accumulation in pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease. The obtained knowledge from this clinical trial would help in future clinical trials aimed to determine if chelation of brain iron in Parkinson’s disease patients produces clinical benefit due to disease modifying effects.
He has been publishing his research findings and has received multiple awards from the American Academy of Neurology.
Movement Disorders: Parkinson's disease, Tremor, dystonia, myoclonus, restless leg syndrome, tardive dyskinesia
Botox injections for cervical dysdonia, blepharospasms, hemifacial spasms, spasticity.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) programming and adjustments.
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Assistant Attending, Hospital for Special Surgery
Assistant Professor, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
American Academy of Neurology
Movement Disorders Society
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Neurology), 2010
Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology, American Academy of Neurology (2006)
Extended Neuroscience Award, American Academy of Neurology (2006)
Medical Student Essay: Novel pathogenic mutations in human mitochondrial DNA genes
Doctor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, 2006
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, St. Petersburg Technological Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2002
Masters, Biology, New York University, Graduate School of Arts and Science, New York, NY, 1997
Internship: Internal Medicine, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY, 2007
Residency: Neurology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, 2010
Fellowship: Movement Disorders, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 2011
English, Russian
New Patient Forms (pdf)
Shtilbans A, Choi S, Fowkes M, Khitrov G, Shahbazi M, Ting J, Zhang W, Sun Y, Sealfon S, Lange D. Differential gene expression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler, 2011; 12(4):250-6.
Shtilbans A, Shanske S, Goodman S, Sue C, Bruno C, Johnson T, Lava N, Waheed N, DiMauro S. G8363A mutation in the mtDNA tRNALys gene: another cause of Leigh syndrome.
J Child Neurol, 2000; 15(11):759-761.
Shtilbans A, El-Schahawi M, Malkin E, Shanske S, Musumeci O, DiMauro S.
A novel mutation in the mitochondrial DNA transfer ribonucleic acid Asp gene in a child with myoclonic epilepsy and psychomotor regression. J Child Neurol, 1999; 14:610-613.
Andreu AL, Bruno C, Dunne TC, Tanji K, Shanske S, Sue CM, Krishna S, Hadjigeorgiou GM, Shtilbans A, Bonilla E, DiMauro S. A nonsense mutation (G15059A) in the cytochrome b gene in a patient with exercise intolerance and myoglobinuria. Ann Neurol, 1999; 45(1):127-130.
Andreu AL, Bruno C, Shanske S, Shtilbans A, Hirano M, Krishna S, Hayward L, Systrom DS, Brown RH Jr, DiMauro S. Missense mutation in the mtDNA cytochrome b gene in a patient with myopathy. Neurology, 1998; 51(5):1444-1447.
Kirov N, Shtilbans A, Rushlow C. Isolation and characterization of a new gene encoding a member of the HIRA family of proteins from Drosophila melanogaster. Gene, 1998; 212(2):323-332.
Hirano M, Shtilbans A, Mayeux R, Davidson MM, DiMauro S, Knowles JA, Schon EA.
Apparent mtDNA heteroplasmy in Alzheimer’s Disease patients and in normals due to PCR amplification of nucleus-embedded mtDNA pseudogenes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1997; 94:14894-14899.
Study of genetic biomarkers and novel treatments for Neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease and ALS.
HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.
Below are the healthcare industry relationships reported by Dr. Shtilbans as of March 27, 2023.
HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.
Patients should feel free to ask their HSS physicians questions about these relationships.
