Christopher M. Gomez MD PhD has worked in the field of genetic disorders of the neuromuscular junction (congenital myasthenic syndromes) and cerebellum for more than 25 years. Dr. Gomez’s long term goals are to help characterize the pathogenic mechanisms that cause ataxia, develop treatments and to identify disease and stage-specific biomarkers of ataxia. Dr. Gomez is an expert in neurogenetic disorders, gait and balance disorders, and in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ataxias -- a family of rare neurodegenerative diseases. Since 1991, Dr. Gomez has been on the medical and research advisory board of the National Ataxia Foundation. He is past chair of the Neurogenetics Section of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Gomez's laboratory research concentrates on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease--with a focus on the means by which genetic mutations in ion channels or other essential proteins lead to dominantly inherited neurodegenerative diseases. His research has resulted in more than 50 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals.
Dr. Gomez established The University of Chicago Ataxia Center in 2006 as a specialty clinic and research center devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ataxias, and as focal points for translational and clinical research. Dr. Gomez has over 20 years of expertise in the evaluation and treatment of patients with diverse forms of degenerative ataxia.
Dr. Gomez is a founding member of the Cooperative Ataxia Group, a national consortium of ataxia specialists that launched the fi rst rating scale and natural history studies for Friedreich’s Ataxia (D. Lynch, PI). He is also a member (UC site) of the newly funded Rare Disease Clinical Research Network for Autosomal Dominant Ataxias (T. Ashizawa, PI). By assembling teams composed of physiologists, neuro-imagers and geneticists, Dr. Gomez has been involved since 1993 in genetic, phenotypic, and genotype-phenotype and studies of patients with a wide range of ataxia types.
Dr. Gomez helped characterize spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) and episodic ataxia type 2 and discovered SCA26. In the laboratory Dr. Gomez studies the disease process caused by the SCA6 and SCA26 mutations and looks for disease and stage-specific biomarkers cerebrospinal fluid of SCA patients.
University of California
Los Angeles, CA
Fellowship
The University of Chicago
IL
Residency
Michael Reese Hospital
Chicago, IL
Internship
The University of Chicago
IL
The University of Chicago
IL
Ph.D. Immunology
The University of Chicago
IL
B.A. Biology
Calcium channel-coupled transcription factors facilitate direct nuclear signaling.
Calcium channel-coupled transcription factors facilitate direct nuclear signaling. bioRxiv. 2025 Feb 16.
PMID: 39990342
Longitudinal Changes in Patient- and Clinical-Reported Outcomes in Early Spinocerebellar Ataxia Types 1, 2, 3, and 6 from the IDEA Study.
Longitudinal Changes in Patient- and Clinical-Reported Outcomes in Early Spinocerebellar Ataxia Types 1, 2, 3, and 6 from the IDEA Study. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2025 Jan 28.
PMID: 39876568
Reliability of remote video ratings of the scale for assessment and rating of ataxia.
Reliability of remote video ratings of the scale for assessment and rating of ataxia. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2025 Mar; 132:107278.
PMID: 39832443
Clinical, Radiological and Pathological Features of a Large American Cohort of Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA27B).
Clinical, Radiological and Pathological Features of a Large American Cohort of Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA27B). Ann Neurol. 2024 Dec; 96(6):1092-1103.
PMID: 39263992
SARA captures disparate progression and responsiveness in spinocerebellar ataxias.
SARA captures disparate progression and responsiveness in spinocerebellar ataxias. J Neurol. 2024 Jul; 271(7):3743-3753.
PMID: 38822840
Correction: The Transcription Factor, a1ACT, Acts Through a MicroRNA Network to Regulate Neurogenesis and Cell Death During Neonatal Cerebellar Development.
Correction: The Transcription Factor, a1ACT, Acts Through a MicroRNA Network to Regulate Neurogenesis and Cell Death During Neonatal Cerebellar Development. Cerebellum. 2024 Apr; 23(2):876.
PMID: 37198370
Standing Balance Conditions and Digital Sway Measures for Clinical Trials of Friedreich's Ataxia.
Standing Balance Conditions and Digital Sway Measures for Clinical Trials of Friedreich's Ataxia. Mov Disord. 2024 Jun; 39(6):996-1005.
PMID: 38469957
Fatigue Impacts Quality of Life in People with Spinocerebellar Ataxias.
Fatigue Impacts Quality of Life in People with Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2024 May; 11(5):496-503.
PMID: 38419568
Digital Measures of Postural Sway Quantify Balance Deficits in Spinocerebellar Ataxia.
Digital Measures of Postural Sway Quantify Balance Deficits in Spinocerebellar Ataxia. Mov Disord. 2024 Apr; 39(4):663-673.
PMID: 38357985
Early-Life Social Determinants of SCA6 Age at Onset, Severity, and Progression.
Early-Life Social Determinants of SCA6 Age at Onset, Severity, and Progression. Cerebellum. 2024 Aug; 23(4):1449-1456.
PMID: 38217689