Guadalupe (Javier) Ortiz IV, MS, PhD
- Assistant Professor
- Neurocognitive Disorders
- Neurodegeneration
Biography
Dr. Ortiz is an Assistant Professor at UTHealth Houston, bringing over 25 years of multidisciplinary research experience spanning virology, immunology, cancer, and neurodegeneration. He earned his PhD from the MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where his doctoral work focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the P53 pathway in cancer risk.
In 2019, Dr. Ortiz transitioned into neurodegeneration research under the mentorship of Dr. Paul Schulz, focusing his efforts on investigating the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease. Since joining the UTHealth faculty in 2023, he has contributed to several key clinical trials while leading research into how the immune system interacts with the brain to advance novel therapeutic strategies.
Education
- Bachelors Degree (BS)
- University of Florida - Gainesville, Florida
- Masters Degree (MS)
- Medical Science, University of Florida - Gainesville, Florida
- Doctorate (PhD)
- Molecular Genetics, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center - Houston, Texas
Areas of Interest
Clinical Interests
Develop investigator-initiated clinical trials to advance disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.
Research Interests
Dr. Ortiz’s primary research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration to slow or reverse disease progression. By analyzing patient samples, Dr. Ortiz investigates how the aging immune system interacts with the brain. This translational work aims to develop targeted therapies that improve immune fitness, ultimately reducing risk and halting disease progression in at-risk populations.