Jennifer Wong, PhD

The research focus of my laboratory aims to further understand the molecular contributions to the development and progression of pediatric epilepsy with the long-term goal of developing better treatments. We use several strategies for treatment discovery in the laboratory, including 1) repurposing drugs, 2) gene therapy approaches, and 3) novel delivery strategies such as nanoparticle formulations. Some of our recent work has identified a potential relationship between early-life epilepsy and increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, a complementary research area in the laboratory investigates the intersection between epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease and associated comorbidities. We use mouse models to interrogate mechanisms of disease, identify potential therapeutic targets, and evaluate the efficacy of candidate treatments for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurological disorders.