Dr. José Catalá-López

Dr. José Catalá-López is a distinguished neurologist based at Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, one of Spain's largest and most academically active public hospitals and a teaching affiliate of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Over his 22-year career, he has built specialized expertise in three complementary areas of neurology: epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease, and headache disorders—conditions that together affect millions of people in Spain and throughout Europe.

In epilepsy, Dr. Catalá-López operates both as a treating neurologist and as a clinician-scientist interested in the genetic underpinnings of seizure disorders. He runs a dedicated epilepsy outpatient clinic and participates in the hospital's video-EEG monitoring unit, where complex cases—including patients being evaluated for epilepsy surgery—undergo comprehensive pre-surgical workup. His understanding of epilepsy genetics allows him to counsel families about hereditary forms of the condition and to guide testing that may reveal actionable genetic diagnoses.

In cerebrovascular disease, he sees patients presenting with acute stroke, TIA, and rarer entities such as cerebral venous thrombosis. He is involved in stroke prevention protocols—including management of atrial fibrillation, a major modifiable stroke risk factor—and works within a multidisciplinary team that includes cardiologists, neuroradiologists, and vascular surgeons. In headache medicine, he evaluates and manages patients with chronic migraine, cluster headache, and secondary headache disorders, applying both pharmacological and interventional approaches.

Dr. Catalá-López is also well known for his contributions to evidence-based medicine through systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which have helped establish or refine treatment guidelines in both epilepsy and stroke prevention.

Dr. Catalá-López completed his medical degree at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, graduating with distinction. He undertook his neurology residency at Hospital Universitario La Paz, where he gained broad exposure to the full spectrum of neurological disease in a high-volume, academically driven environment. His PhD research focused on the epidemiology and genetics of epilepsy, conducted in collaboration with the CIBERSAM (Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Mental Health) and supported by the Carlos III Health Institute. He subsequently completed advanced training in clinical epidemiology and systematic review methodology, skills he has applied extensively in collaborative research with European institutions. He has held research fellowships at institutions in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, building networks that inform his ongoing collaborative research. He serves as an associate professor, supervising neurology residents and doctoral students at the hospital.

Dr. Catalá-López's diagnostic and therapeutic practice draws on a broad range of neurological skills. In epilepsy, he performs and interprets EEGs and participates in prolonged video-EEG monitoring sessions for patients with difficult-to-classify seizure types and those being evaluated for surgical resection. He is experienced in the initiation and management of antiseizure medications (ASMs) across the full range of agents—from classic drugs such as valproate and levetiracetam to newer targeted agents—and in counseling patients with epilepsy about driving, pregnancy, and lifestyle.

In cerebrovascular disease, he uses transcranial Doppler (TCD) and carotid/vertebral artery ultrasound to assess blood flow, detect embolic signals in cardioembolism workups, and monitor patients with intracranial stenosis. He manages secondary stroke prevention pharmacotherapy including antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy, and participates in AF screening programs linked to stroke prevention. For headache, he conducts detailed headache histories, prescribes prophylactic and acute therapies including CGRP antagonists, and coordinates with pain medicine for complex refractory cases. Lumbar puncture for CSF analysis is part of his routine toolkit for diagnostic workup of inflammatory, infectious, and demyelinating neurological conditions.

Dr. Catalá-López is recognized for his methodological rigor in clinical research, having authored and co-authored numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have been published in high-impact journals including JAMA Neurology, Epilepsia, Neurology, and the BMJ. His research in epilepsy genetics has contributed to understanding the genetic architecture of common epilepsy syndromes and to identifying rare monogenic epilepsies that benefit from precision medicine approaches. In stroke prevention, he has led systematic analyses of anticoagulation strategies in atrial fibrillation and contributed to European Stroke Organisation guideline working groups. He collaborates extensively with research groups in Spain through the CIBERSAM network and internationally through the ILAE and ESO research consortia. He has also contributed to pharmacoepidemiology research examining adverse effects of neurological medications at a population level.

Dr. Catalá-López sees international patients at Hospital Universitario La Paz, which has administrative support for foreign patients including coordination with international health insurers and translation assistance. Consultations are available in Spanish and English. EU citizens can access care at La Paz under the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or cross-border healthcare directive frameworks; non-EU patients are accommodated privately with costs discussed in advance. Video consultations are available and are particularly suitable for second opinions in epilepsy—for example, patients with refractory seizures wondering whether their diagnosis or current medication regimen should be revisited—or for stroke patients seeking expert guidance on secondary prevention strategy who have already undergone local investigations and imaging.

Dr. Catalá-López received the SEN (Sociedad Española de Neurología) Young Researcher Award, one of the most competitive distinctions in Spanish academic neurology, recognizing the quality and impact of his early research output in epilepsy genetics and evidence-based neurology. He has been a laureate of the Fundación Española de Neurología research grant program, supporting his systematic review work and collaborative studies in stroke epidemiology. He serves on the scientific advisory boards of major Spanish neurology research programs and has been invited to present his work at international meetings of the ILAE, European Stroke Organisation, and the European Academy of Neurology. He acts as a peer reviewer for several leading neurology journals and contributes to the Spanish neurology society's continuing medical education programs.