Biography
Roger L. Albin, MD, is a Professor of Neurology and co-director of the Movement Disorders Division in the Department of Neurology in the University of Michigan Medical School. In addition, he serves as Chief of Neuroscience Research at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Geriatrics, Research, Education, and Clinical Center.
Dr. Albin joined the University of Michigan faculty in 1988 as an Instructor in the Department of Neurology. He was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1989; Associate Professor in 1994; and achieved his current rank of full Professor in 2000.
After completing his undergraduate degree at Oberlin College in Ohio, Dr. Albin earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1982, and completed his residency at the University of Michigan in 1986. He also completed a Movement Disorders fellowship in 1988 under Drs. Anne Young and John Penney.
His clinical and research interests include the underlying pathophysiology of basal ganglia disorders. The present focus of Dr. Albin's research is uncovering the basis for treatment-refractory (cognitive; gait/balance) problems in Parkinson's disease. Molecular imaging with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) methods is a primary research tool. The hope is that understanding how specific brain alterations cause specific clinical features will lead to improved treatments.
Dr. Albin is Director of the University of Michigan Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research and the University of Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation Research Center of Excellence. He also directs the University of Michigan Clinical Neuroscientist Training Program.
Areas of Interest
Research: Understanding the basis for the clinical features of different Movement Disorders.
Clinical Interests
Neurology, Movement Disorders: Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, Tremors, Tics, Dystonias, and Cognitive Disorders.
Honors & Awards
- Member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Neurologic Association, and the Society for Neuroscience
- Member of the editorial boards of Neurology and Movement Disorders
- Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
- The 2021 recipient of the American Academy of Neurology Movement Disorders Research Award
Credentials
Medical School or Training
- University of Pittsburgh, 1982
Residency
- University of Michigan Health System, Neurology, MI, 1986
Fellowship
- Neurology, University of Michigan Health System, 1988
Board Certification
- Neurology
Published Articles or Reviews
- Albin RL. Parkinson Disease. Oxford University Press, 2022.
- Albin RL, van der Zee S, van Laar T, Sarter M, Lustig C, Muller MLTM, Bohnen NI. Cholinergic Systems, Attentional-Motor Integration, and Cognitive Control in Parkinson Disease. Progress in Brain Research 269:345-371, 2022.
- Albin RL, Müller MLTM, Bohnen NI, Spino C, Sarter M, Koeppe RA, Szpara A, Kim K, Lustig C, Dauer WT. α4β2* Nicotinic Cholinergic Receptor Target Engagement in Parkinson Disease. Ann Neurol 90:130-142, 2021.
- Albin RL. Tourette Syndrome as a disorder of the social decision making network. Front Psych. 10:742, 2019.