Julie Eisengart

Dr. Julie Eisengart is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and serves as Director of the Neurodevelopmental Program in Rare Disease at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. As a pediatric neuropsychologist, her work focuses on rare neurodegenerative childhood disorders, particularly lysosomal storage disorders such as mucopolysaccharidosis and adrenoleukodystrophy.

• Current affiliation: University of Minnesota, Department of Pediatrics
• Leadership role: Director of Neurodevelopmental Program in Rare Disease

Her research explores the dynamic interplay between brain structure, biochemical abnormalities, and functional outcomes in rare diseases. Key projects include:

• Phase 1/2 trial for Gaucher disease type 2 (2020-2026)
• Long-term outcomes of hematopoietic cell transplantation for alpha-mannosidosis (2023-2025)
• Biomarker development for Sanfilippo syndrome progression (2021-2023)
• Hydrocephalus analysis in Hurler syndrome (2020-2022)
• Neurobehavioral links to brain connectivity in MPS I (2020-2021)

Her work emphasizes patient-centered outcomes, including neurobehavioral symptoms and caregiver experiences, while contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals through rare disease research. Recent publications focus on hematopoietic cell transplantation efficacy, neurocognitive biomarkers, and novel therapeutic approaches like Anakinra for Sanfilippo syndrome.