Chelban Viorica
Main achievement
Doctor at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Awarded by the Association of British Neurologists.
About
Dr. Viorica Chelban is a renowned neurologist, specializing in neurogenetics, neurodegeneration, and rare diseases, working as a clinical academic at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. Her remarkable career includes the discovery of disease-causing genes, the elucidation of disease mechanisms and treatment pathways, as well as the creation of unique research infrastructures, such as the UK HSP Biobank and the UK MSA Network and Biobank. With over 52 scientific publications and an h-index of 13, she has made essential contributions to genomic studies on Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and hereditary spastic paraplegia, promoting personalized medicine through advanced genetic sequencing technologies. Her professional training began in the Republic of Moldova, where she graduated from Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy with a Doctor of Medicine degree (2004-2010), followed by a residency in internal medicine/neurology (2010-2014). She continued her specialization in France, at Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris (2011-2012), and in the United Kingdom, obtaining a Master's in Clinical Neurology (UCL, 2014-2015) and a PhD in Neuroscience (UCL, 2017-2020) through scholarships such as the Association of British Neurologists Clinical Research Training Fellowship and a Post-doctoral Fellowship from Guarantors of Brain. Prior to medicine, she was the executive director of the Center for Young Journalists in Moldova (2005-2010), demonstrating versatility in diverse fields. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Chelban consults patients in multi-system atrophy and neurogenetics clinics, leading international projects that have transformed diagnosis and treatment, enabling patients to regain mobility by identifying rare genetic causes. Recently promoted to Senior Clinical Research Fellow, she is a principal investigator in grants and clinical trials for MSA, emphasizing the importance of global collaborations. She is fluent in Romanian, English, and French, maintaining ties with Moldova through academic collaborations and advocacy for rare diseases.
