Dr. Alcalay's primary research work involves the genetics and the epidemiology of Parkinson's disease. His research is supported by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Brookdale Foundation, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, the Michael J Fox Foundation and the Smart Foundation.

Columbia's movement disorders fellowship director, Dr. Alcalay is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology and of the Movement Disorder Society, Dr. Alcalay has contributed to a range of original articles in leading medical research journals, including the The New England Journal of Medicine, Neurology, Archives of Neurology, Genetics in Medicine, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, Movement Disorders and Parkinsonism and Related Disorders.