Dr. Jordan Orange to lead newly merged program in pediatric Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine

HOUSTON - (May 9, 2012) - Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) announced the arrival of Dr. Jordan Orange to lead a newly merged section and service of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology. An internationally recognized leader in studying and treating primary immunodeficiency disorders in children, Orange serves as chief of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology and director of a new Center for Human Immunobiology at Texas Children's and as professor and section head for Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology in the Department of Pediatrics at BCM.


Orange's research focuses on the biology of natural killer cells and the innate immune system, with a clinical focus on primary immunodeficiency disease. He has received funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as well as the United States Immunodeficiency Network to support his laboratory work.


Over the past decade, Orange has redefined the field of human natural killer cell deficiencies in various genetic disorders. He recently collaborated with European researchers who achieved marked clinical improvements in using gene therapy to treat young children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare but often severe immunodeficiency disorder. He is currently conducting clinical trials testing the use of immunotherapy to boost immune function in children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.


"Dr. Orange is an outstanding physician-scientist who will provide extraordinary leadership to our newly merged program in pediatric Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology," said Dr. Mark Kline, physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital and professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at BCM. "The cutting-edge research he brings to Texas Children's and BCM stands to transform the treatment and prognosis of a whole range of primary immunodeficiency diseases that impact children's health."


Orange comes to Texas Children's and BCM from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania where he served as the Jeffrey Modell Endowed Chair in Immunology. He is a National Institutes of Health R01-funded investigator and is one of the world's leading physician-scientists studying the pathogenesis and treatment of primary immunodeficiency disease.


Orange obtained his undergraduate, M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Brown University and completed his pediatric residency training at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, followed by postdoctoral fellowship training in pediatric allergy/immunology and rheumatology at Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard University.


Orange has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, the majority of which have been published in top-tier journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Experimental Medicine and Journal of Immunology, among others. He is an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and has been invited to present at dozens of national and international meetings. He has also won numerous national awards, including the 2009 American Philosophical Society Judson Daland Prize, which honors outstanding achievements in patient-oriented research.

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.