Appointment
Professor, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Director, Institute for Translational Neuroscience
Expert Areas
Brain Sciences, Gene therapy, Translational research
Research Focus
Harry Orr’s research explores genes that play a role in neuron deterioration. This offers important implications for developing gene therapy and other types of treatments for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Orr discovered the genetic basis for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, an inherited and ultimately fatal movement disorder, and has set the stage for developing a drug to treat the condition. Orr directs the Institute of Translational Neuroscience, which was created to translate laboratory research discoveries into clinical trials of new therapies.
