Research Professor, Department of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
About Dr. Fiala
Dr. Milan Fiala is a physician–scientist whose work bridges neurology, immunology, and nutrition science, with a special focus on vitamin D, immune regulation, and Alzheimer’s disease. He earned his M.D. from the University of Geneva (Switzerland) and an M.Sc. in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.
As a Research Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and investigator at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Dr. Fiala has spent decades exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie neurodegenerative disorders. His research examines how vitamin D3, omega-3 fatty acids, and curcumin influence macrophage activity, inflammation, and amyloid-β clearance, key factors in Alzheimer’s pathology.
Key Contributions & Research
- Pioneering work on amyloid-β clearance: Dr. Fiala was among the first to identify how macrophages from Alzheimer’s patients have impaired ability to clear amyloid-β plaques and how vitamin D3 supplementation restores phagocytic function, improving immune cell response.
- Nutritional immunotherapy research: In a 2013 study, “1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Resolvin D1 Retune the Balance between Amyloid-β Phagocytosis and Inflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients,” his team showed that vitamin D3 and resolving D1 (from omega-3s) synergistically enhance amyloid clearance while reducing inflammatory gene expression.
- Curcumin and vitamin D synergy: Dr. Fiala’s research demonstrated that combining curcuminoids with vitamin D3 enhances macrophage amyloid-β uptake, revealing a potential non-pharmacologic adjunct for Alzheimer’s prevention.
Awards & Recognition
- 2008 Alzheimer Award – Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
For the paper “Phagocytosis of amyloid-beta and inflammation: Two faces of innate immunity in Alzheimer’s disease.” - Featured by UCLA Newsroom and national scientific media for groundbreaking findings on vitamin D, omega-3s, and neuroimmunology.
Top Publications
- Fiala M, et al. 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Resolvin D1 Retune the Balance between Amyloid-β Phagocytosis and Inflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (2013). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4040018/
- Fiala M, et al. Neuroprotective and Immune Effects of Active Forms of Vitamin D3 and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Alzheimer Disease Patients. Functional Foods in Health and Disease (2011). https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1096/fj.14-264218
- Fiala M, et al. Phagocytosis of amyloid-β and inflammation: Two faces of innate immunity in Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (2008). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4945585/
