Roberto Alfonso, PHD

Dr. Alfonso joined the Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York as a Research Associate in January 2020 after completing his postdoctoral training at the Laboratory of Viral Diseases in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. At the NIH, Dr. Alfonso's research focused on the regulation of Herpes virus gene expression during lytic and latency phases and the discovery of new host-virus interactions. These studies led to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the transcription of viral genes and the identification of new antiviral targets.

Dr. Alfonso performed his Ph.D. at the National Center for Biotechnology in Madrid, Spain, where he studied the role of epigenetic host factors in the replication and pathogenesis of influenza virus. At Tisch MSRCNY, Dr. Alfonso's research is directed towards understanding the role of environmental factors for the development of MS and the contribution of the immune system to pathogenesis. He was promoted to Assistant Research Scientist in January, 2021.

SELECTED ABSTRACTS

2022

• Joyce Lei, Vanessa J. Kirschner, Grant Feuer, Michaela Malin, Jiayuan Liu, Morgan Roche, Jerry Lin, Roberto Alfonso, Saud A. Sadiq.Strong T-cell activation in response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis on B-cell depleting therapies. Presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting held April 2-7, 2022.

2021

• Vanessa J. Kirschner, Grant Feuer, Michaela Malin, Joyce Lei, Jiayuan Liu, Morgan Roche, Jerry Lin, Roberto Alfonso, Saud A. Sadiq. T-cell activation in patients with multiple sclerosis on B-cell depleting therapies is as effective as that of general population in response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Presented virtually at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2021.