Microscopic Conversations: How Organelles Communicate & What It Means for Neurological Diseases

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal welcomes Dr. Yvette Wong, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University and 2024 Toffler Scholar, for a deep dive into the dynamic inner world of cells—and how her lab is uncovering new clues about neurodegenerative diseases by studying the microscopic interactions between organelles.
Dr. Wong discusses how organelles like mitochondria and lysosomes don’t just function in isolation—they actually “talk” to each other at contact points within cells. These cellular conversations may hold the key to unlocking better understanding and treatments for conditions like ALS, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease.
Through vivid analogies (like buses exchanging cargo), Dr. Wong helps translate complex science into clear visuals, while also highlighting how advances in super-resolution live-cell microscopy and data analysis are transforming what’s possible in neuroscience.
🔬 Topics Covered:
What organelles and organoids are—and why they matter
The importance of mitochondrial-lysosomal contact sites in brain cells
How defects in organelle crosstalk may contribute to diseases like ALS and Parkinson’s
Why time-lapse microscopy is revolutionizing our understanding of disease mechanisms
How Huntington’s disease mutations affect cellular cleanup systems
The promise (and challenge) of modeling decades-long diseases in a lab
Dr. Wong’s vision for the future of neuroscience—and the dream experiment she hopes technology will make possible
🔗 Resources & Links:
Dr. Yvette Wong’s Lab: [Search “Yvette Wong Lab” or visit Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine]


Learn more about the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust: https://tofflertrust.org/


📬 Contact Dr. Wong:
Email: [email protected]
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