James Peter Orengo

James Peter Orengo, M.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and Director of the Multi-disciplinary ALS Clinic at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. He also serves as Associate Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at BCM. His research focuses on motor neuron degeneration, particularly in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), using zebrafish and mouse models to identify pathogenic mechanisms.

Dr. Orengo holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology and an MD from BCM, followed by neurology residency at UCSF and a neuromuscular fellowship at Stanford. He is a co-investigator in the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) and collaborates with institutions like MD Anderson and Rice University.

His research interests span neuromuscular medicine, neurogenetics, and motor neuron diseases. Key projects include studying motor neuron degeneration in SCA1, developing zebrafish models for rare neurological disorders, and analyzing genomic data to solve undiagnosed cases. His lab supports postdocs, graduate students, and technicians, emphasizing collaborative science.

Dr. Orengo’s clinical roles include directing the ALS clinic, which was named a Certified Center of Excellence by the ALS Association. His work bridges clinical practice and research to advance therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.