National television exposure is a pretty heady accomplishment. To secure a huge grant as well to research the topic is quite a two-for-one.

Sanford Health medical researcher Dr. Jill Weimer, PhD, will appear on the Monday edition of The Doctors to discuss Batten Disease a rare, fatal, genetic disorder of nervous system. Locally, KDLT will air the show at 11:00 AM. The Doctors is a show featuring a panel of medical professionals who discuss medical issues and take audience questions.

Weimer is scientist and associate director of the Children’s Health Research Center at Sanford Research and has conducted research on Batten Disease for 15 years. She has worked with Sanford since 2009 and joins The Doctors to explain the disease and what the family can expect as the disease progresses.

The effort to know more about Batten Disease has gained traction since Hollywood producer Gordon Gray and his wife Kristen have two daughters, 4 and a half year-old Charlotte and 2 year-old Gwyneth, who both have the incurable brain disease. According to the Batten Disease Support and Research Association, genetic mutations disrupt the body’s cells ability to dispose of proteins and fats.

The result of this condition is a progressive neurological impairment, which can lead to seizures, impaired vision or blindness, personality or behavior changes, dementia and loss of motor skills. Batten Disease can be found in both children and adults.

The appearance on the show and her track record in researching this malady proved fruitful as Sanford Health’s Dr. Weimer received a $440,00 grant from the Charlotte & Gwenyth Gray Foundation to Cure Batten Disease. This is the Foundation started by the Gray family that Dr. Weimer joined on The Doctors. It’s a one-year grant that will help support Dr. Weimer’s research on Batten disease.

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