Weimer Lab

09/10/2026

Spent an exciting afternoon visiting our collaborators in the David Liu Lab at the The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Even found a smaller version of our other collaborator Greg Newby!!!

08/25/2026

Honored to be in Røros, Norway, for the Stengel 200 CLN3 Conference, and grateful for the opportunity to present our work on vision changes in the CLN3 Batten disease pig model.

This is a truly unique meeting—only the second gathering of its kind, following the first meeting here in 1980—and an opportunity to bring together scientists, clinicians, and families to reflect on how far the CLN3 field has come and where we need to go next.

I’ve been especially impressed by the tremendous participation of families affected by CLN3 disease. Their perspectives and engagement are always a highlight of this work and an important reminder of why we do it.

Grateful to the organizers, our collaborators, and especially the families for making this such a memorable meeting.

Stengel 200 Conference Program⁠: https://www.ntnu.edu/web/stengel200/program

08/13/2026

I’m incredibly honored and grateful to be recognized by Women We Admire as one of the Top Women Leaders of South Dakota for 2026.

Throughout my career, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work alongside extraordinary scientists, clinicians, advocates, colleagues, mentors, and, most importantly, rare disease patients and families who inspire me and my lab every day. So much of what we accomplish in rare disease research and therapeutic development is truly a team effort, and I’m grateful to all of the people who have challenged me, supported me, and shared in this mission along the way.

I’m especially proud to be part of the incredible research at Sanford Research and healthcare community at Sanford Health in South Dakota and to see so many talented women from across our state recognized for their leadership and impact.

Thank you to Women We Admire for this recognition, and congratulations to all of the remarkable women included on this year’s list. I’m honored to be among you!



https://thewomenweadmire.com/2026/08/the-top-women-leaders-of-south-dakota-for-2026/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTqqxdwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4rAYROgeShGEkq3wyQvsrdY8GASpg7V5TLC5afjFdQWxuu19Qa2ahxExIWug_aem_tZmN3l3-g6c6DGrZLBM2dw

Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top Women Leaders of South Dakota for 2026. The state enters the year with population growth running at more than twice the national rate, accompanied by continued employment gains in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. South Dakota’s business influence also exte...

08/11/2026

We recently said goodbye to our summer students Reagan and Calista! Thank you both for spending your summer in the lab with us.

07/11/2026

Our team had a great time connecting with families, researchers, and collaborators at this year’s BDSRA Annual Family Conference in Chicago. We are so grateful to be a part of this amazing community!

06/17/2026

Last week was the 10th Annual Eastern South Dakota Research Symposium here at Sanford Research Institute. Kaia was able to present a poster showcasing some of our recent work!

06/16/2026

This week, the Weimer Lab continues our tradition of honoring the individuals who have shaped our work and our hearts. We painted memory rocks for Charlotte Gray as we approach two years of her passing this July. The Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation was pivotal in advancing the CLN6 gene therapy program, and her impact continues as this work is now being thoughtfully revamped. Her legacy continues to guide what we do every day.

06/09/2026

Today is International Batten Disease Awareness Day. Every day, we remember why research is important; behind every experiment is a reminder of why we do what we do. Today, we recognize the strength of the Batten disease community and the hope that drives us forward!

06/09/2026

The Weimer lab has had the honor of working in partnership with the ForeBatten foundation and this rockstar team of individuals for the last few years. So proud of what we have accomplished as a team!

Last week was the 2-year anniversary of the first dose of Zebronkysen! We continue to be in awe of what we have accomplished and feel that it is only fitting to acknowledge the tremendous team that helped make our dream a reality. These dedicated and experienced professionals, who are some of the smartest people we know, embraced our challenge to treat the girls in record time.

The band is back together (we were never on a break, really) to tackle the common mutation in what we have dubbed Project Four Leaf Clover.

Look for updates on this project in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, help us celebrate these amazing humans on what is fittingly International Batten Disease Awareness Day.🦓🐒

Karen Koenig Kahn, Stacie Wehling, Gavin Malenfant, Dr. Michelle Hastings, Brian Mulhern, Dr. Yael Shiloh-Malawsky, Carol Mabry Schwimmer, Bernadette Keane, Dennis Chen, Yulissa Gonzalez, Tiffany Sepp, Caitlin O'Hara, Jessica Centa, Jill Weimer, Russell Gotschall, David Kahn

06/06/2026

We are excited to welcome two students to the lab this summer! Reagan is a student at Bethel University and is in the SPUR program. Calista is a student at Madison High School and is in the PROMISE Scholar program. Welcome to the Weimer Lab!