2025 DLF Prize Awarded to Justin Burrell, Ph.D.
Dan Lewis Foundation

Dr. Burrell is a translational neuroengineer in the Departments of Neurosurgery and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. His research integrates advanced neural repair strategies with clinical translation, focusing on axon protection, nerve fusion, and engineered neural tissue for neurotrauma recovery. Dr. Burrell has led the development of multiple first-in-field innovations—including the first large-animal model of nerve fusion, delayed axonal fusion protocols, and the first orally active axonal protectants—positioning him as a recognized leader in regenerative neurotechnologies. He is co-founder of Neurostorative LLC and plays a central role in several other platforms aimed at neural reconnection, long-term preservation, and bio-integrated prosthetic systems. In the fall of 2025, he will begin as the Director of Translational Research at Penn’s Center for Neurodegeneration, Neuroregeneration, and Neurorehabilitation.

Photo of Dr. Justin Burrell.

With over 40 publications and six patents, Dr. Burrell brings a unique combination of rigorous scientific expertise and translational vision. His interdisciplinary collaborations span academia, industry, and government, including contributions to multi-PI NIH and DOD-funded initiatives. A committed educator and mentor, he has trained numerous graduate and undergraduate students and taught academic entrepreneurship to hundreds of trainees across disciplines. Motivated by a personal connection to paralysis and a deep commitment to impact-driven science, Dr. Burrell continues to advance novel platforms to restore lost function and reshape the future of neural repair.


Dr. Burrell writes “My research program is dedicated to developing integrated therapeutic strategies to stimulate meaningful functional recovery following severe acquired brain trauma, by preserving injured neural circuitry, promoting regeneration, and reconstructing long-distance pathways. My work spans three interconnected areas: pharmacological neuroprotection, engineered neural tissue for circuit reconstruction, and targeted molecular delivery using high-throughput discovery platforms”. 



Dr. Burrell also states “My research is directly aligned with the Dan Lewis Foundation’s priorities to advance pharmacological, cellular, and molecular strategies for neural repair. I am committed to developing therapies that stimulate meaningful functional recovery after acquired brain trauma by preserving residual neural circuits, reactivating intrinsic repair programs, and reconstructing long-distance connectivity through engineered tissue.


The DLF is very enthusiastic about Dr. Burrell’s research. He stands out among a growing cadre of young investigators who will bring meaningful brain regeneration into reality in the near future.

The word arpah is written in blue letters on a white background.

ARPA-H Announcement Seeks Research Projects in Brain Regeneration

By Dan Lewis Foundation • July 31, 2025
On July 10, 2025, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced a major initiative titled Functional Repair of Neocortical Tissue or FRONT. The announcement states “FRONT will pioneer a curative therapy for the more than 20 million adults in the US living with chronic neocortical brain damage from neurodegeneration, stroke, trauma, and other causes, which costs the country an estimated $800 billion per year. Worldwide, more than 200 million people live with debilitating after-effects of brain damage.”  A set of informational meetings about this program and a due date for outlines of potential proposals have been set for August. Full proposals are due by September 25, 2025. Complete instructions, specifications, and expectations are delineated in the ARPA-H FRONT announcement. The FRONT announcement includes a clear expectation that the successful brain regeneration methods that are discovered will be used in clinical trials with persons with brain injury by the fifth year of the program. The DLF lauds ARPA-H for initiating this program. We are discussing possibilities for playing a supportive role as proposals develop. This exciting program is congruent with the original overarching goals of the DLF and confirms the validity of its mission.
Dr. Kim Gorgens

New Members of DLF Board of Directors Introduced

By Dan Lewis Foundation • July 31, 2025
Dr. Kim Gorgens is a board-certified rehabilitation psychologist and Professor of Psychophysiology, Clinical Neuropsychology and Psychology of Criminal Behavior at the University of Denver . She manages a large portfolio of brain injury related research and has lectured extensively on those issues around the world. She has a 2010 TED talk on youth sports concussion and a 2018 TED talk on brain injuries in criminal justice with 3.5M views. She has been interviewed on CNN with Anderson Cooper, NPR, and on 20/20 and her work with brain injuries has been featured in USNews , Newsweek , the Economist , People Magazine , and more. She has a small forensic neuropsychology practice with juvenile and death penalty cases and is active in legislative and policy development around best practices in brain injury. Her research studies the reported injury history, cognitive function, and brain biomarkers of all vulnerable populations including young and older athletes, probationers and inmates, persons who are unhoused, and women who have been exposed to interpersonal violence.