Cajal's Challenge
Dan Lewis Foundation | Spring 2024

Overcoming the Barriers in Making New Neurons in the Adult Brain: Lessons from Nature


Almost 100 years ago, the father of modern neuroscience Santiago Ramón y Cajal, a Spanish physician, recognized that the injured brain could not repair or regrow damaged neurons. Cajal stated, “In adult centers the nerve paths are something fixed, ended, immutable. Everything may die, nothing may be regenerated. It is key for the science of the future to change, if possible, this decree.”¹ Cajal recognized that for individuals with devastating brain diseases or brain injuries, there was little that could be done to repair or regenerate neurons. He proposed that it was up to future scientists to solve the problem of regeneration. There lies Cajal’s Challenge. 


The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) will meet in Vienna from June 25th to 29th, covering all areas of neuroscience from basic to translational. On June 24th, a one-day pre-FENS workshop will be held with 100 young researchers. This one-day meeting, started in 2021, is designed to create a strong and interactive community among young researchers in the fields of neurogenesis and glia to neuron conversion in Europe, the U.S., and beyond. Our vision is to promote the free exchange of ideas and results among the research groups working in this area. Neurogenesis and Glia-to-Neuron conversion is one of the most exciting research fields of our times.

Cajal’s Challenge Speakers:

Alejandro Schinder, PhD

Benedict Berninger, PhD

Don Cleveland, PhD

Enric Llorens, PhD 

Elly Tanaka, PhD

Magdalena Gotz, PhD

Noelia Urban, PhD

Sumru Bayin, PhD

Sofia Grade, PhD

Sven Falk, PhD

For more information and free registration: 

https://roymaimonel.wixsite.com/cajalschalange


1. Ramón y Cajal S.

Degeneration and Regeneration of the Nervous System.

Haffner Publishing Company, New York, NY1926


A close-up of a glowing neural network with interconnected blue fibers and bright nodes against a dark background.

Restoring Communication in the Injured Brain

By Justin Burrell, PhD • March 17, 2026
A Neuroengineer’s Approach to Rebuilding Neural Circuits Note: Justin Burrell is the 2025 winner of the DLF Prize for Post-Doctoral Research. This article emphasizes the regenerative potential of improving the connectivity of replenished neural material.
Dan Lewis Foundation logo above the title: MAKING HEADWAY, An Evening of Scientific Advances and Musical Interludes PART I.

Making Headway: An Evening of Scientific Advances and Musical Interludes

By Hal Lewis • March 17, 2026
The Dan Lewis Foundation proudly presents Making Headway: An Evening of Scientific Advances and Musical Interludes DLF INFOTAINMENT FUNDRAISER WILL STREAM ON MARCH 26, 2026 The Dan Lewis Foundation will stream a program filled with up-to-date information about brain regeneration and terrific music on Thursday, March 26th. The event will be co-hosted by Dr. Jonathan LaPook, Chief Medical Correspondent for CBS News and Dr. David Margulies, biomedical and biotechnology writer and innovator and co-founder of the Dan Lewis Foundation. The musical performers will be Low Strung , a tremendous group of cellists who arrange and perform classic rock on their acoustic cellos and the Yale Symphony Orchestra playing two pieces from their 2025 season repertoire. The program will stream at 5:00 P.M. (Pacific), 6:00 P.M. (Mountain), 7:00 P.M. (Central), 8:00 P.M. (Eastern). This free program will be approximately one hour in length. The link to the event, which will activate on Thursday, March 26th at the above time(s) is: here . In late June, a similar program will be presented with additional information about the neuroscience and biotechnology of brain regeneration. This program will feature the Bill Hill Jazz Project and jazz pianist and Pulitzer Prize winning opera composer, Anthony Davis. Details of that event will be distributed in mid-June. We hope you will join us for this event. An informative and enjoyable program is promised!