Better Treatments and Life-Changing Connections: The Wong Laboratory Works to Improve Outcomes for Children with Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders

Jennifer Wong, PhD, has always been fascinated with the brain. Her interest led her to pursue a doctoral degree in Neuroscience from the University of Georgia. Initially, she focused on visual and auditory function, but a startling experience fueled her pursuit of another budding research interest—one that could lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying epilepsy.

“I encountered someone having a seizure, and it was terrifying,” she said. “I was curious about how this could happen and about what mechanisms underlie a seizure. I knew I wanted to study it.”

Dr. Wong began studying epilepsy during her postdoctoral training in Dr. Andrew Escayg’s laboratory in the Department of Human Genetics at Emory. She recently joined the Department of Pediatrics at Emory with the Wong Lab opening in September 2024. She and the members of her lab are interested in studying the development and progression of pediatric epilepsy over the lifespan, examining the intersection between pediatric epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease, and developing better treatments for epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

As part of their work, the Wong Lab examines the effect of different genetic mutations on seizure susceptibility, behavior such as learning, memory and social behavior, and molecular changes over time. The lab is also interested in drug development, including the discovery of new strategies for using existing drugs that can help with seizures and behavioral challenges.

“We often focus on controlling seizures in clinic, but behavioral comorbidities are important too,” she said. “I work with many families and they have told us that behavioral challenges are more often more debilitating than the seizures in daily life.”

Patients with epilepsy and their families offer essential insights into the realities of living with this condition, making ongoing communication with them a crucial aspect of the research process. Their experiences and stories serve as inspiration to continue studying epilepsy and to develop better treatments. "Each year, I attend a gathering of parents and their children with SCN8A-associated epilepsy where I can meet children with the condition I’m studying," she shared. "That provides a powerful reminder of why we do this work. This work can have a profound impact on these kids."

A long-term goal of the Wong Lab is to translate the preclinical laboratory work to the clinic where it will improve the lives of children with epilepsy. “I wanted to work with Emory and Children’s because I could connect the bench to the bedside here,” she said. “It is likely that there are kids who are being treated here with the same genetic mutations I have seen and studied in my lab.”

Just as the parents and children living with epilepsy inspire Dr. Wong to keep going, she encourages the researchers who work in her lab. “If I have any advice for students considering a career in research, it is to keep persevering,” she said. “Sometimes the unexpected results lead to new research questions and foster your growth as a scientist. When things aren’t going as expected, stick with it.”

To learn more about Dr. Wong, visit her faculty profile. Visit The Wong Lab to learn more about their work.

Click here for more information about Dr. Wong and the Children’s Center for Neurosciences Research (CCNR). 

Originally published here.