Dr. William Zeiger is the 2024 recipient of the $20,000 DLF Prize
Dan Lewis Foundation | Summer 2024

The Dan Lewis Foundation for Brain Regeneration Research (the DLF) is extremely pleased to introduce the recipient of the 2024 DLF Prize, Dr. William Zeiger. The DLF Prize recognizes an early career scientist in neuroscience, pharmacology, or biotechnology whose research record and future research plans align with one or more of the DLF’s current research priorities. These research priorities are:


  1. Research into pharmacological methods of reactivating or augmenting synaptogenesis
  2. Research into trials of repleting damaged cortex using derived cortical neurons
  3. Research into transcriptomic profiles of cortical neurons during recovery phase post brain injury
  4. Research furthering effective design of anti-sense oligonucleotides and/or other small molecule medicines to down-regulate inhibitors of regeneration in the cortex and spinal cord


Dr. Zeiger is a physician-scientist in the Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Division, at UCLA. Dr. Zeiger was born in Burlington, Wisconsin and grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He then completed the M.D.,Ph.D. program at the University of Chicago. 



Dr. Zeiger’s doctoral research focused on understanding the cell biology of the stress-induced protein Stanniocalcin 2, and the role of calcium homeostasis in regulating amyloid beta production. Dr. Zeiger completed clinical residency training in neurology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and UCLA. He then did a fellowship, specializing in movement disorders at UCLA and completing post-doctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Carlos Portera-Cailliau. Dr. Zeiger has expertise in the diagnosis and medical treatment of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease, atypical Parkinsonism, tremors, and dystonia, among others. His research interest includes understanding mechanisms of cortical circuit function in the healthy brain and how dysfunction of cortical circuits contributes to pathophysiology and symptoms of neurologic disorders such as stroke and Parkinson's disease.


Dr. Zeiger has had extensive training in both clinical neurology and in research neuroscience. In Dr. Zeiger’s words,  “During my time in clinical training, I came to appreciate that many neurologic disorders, particularly those resulting from stroke or other acute brain injuries, operate on the level of neural circuits and that I would need to acquire new research skills to investigate neural circuits. Toward that end I joined the laboratory of Dr. Carlos Portera-Cailliau where I developed expertise in interrogating neural circuits using a classic “lesional neurology” approach. Our lab remains focused on understanding how neural circuits become dysfunctional after lesions to the cortex and on investigating novel circuit-based approaches to reactivate and restore damaged cortex”. 


The DLF is enthusiastic regarding the content and quality of Dr. Zeiger’s work. We believe he will make significant contributions to the field of brain regeneration in the future. We look forward to his participation in and contributions to the DLF.

Two women embrace, comforted. A man watches from a separate chair. Interior, daytime.

What Does “Ambiguous Loss” Mean?

By Hal Lewis • December 5, 2025
My daughter, currently nearing completion of a graduate program in counselling, recently introduced me to the term “ambiguous loss”. This term applies to a loss that is unclear and lacks certainty, leaving family members and close friends feeling stuck because it is so difficult to mourn or find closure. One type of ambiguous loss is when the person is physically present but psychologically absent because their personality, memory, cognition, or emotional connection has been altered. Examples might include a family member with dementia, a progressive disease, a severe emotional disorder, or substantial brain injury. A second type of ambiguous loss is when the person is psychologically present but physically absent. This could include a missing person due to a natural disaster, a long- term incarceration, a kidnapping, or severe estrangement from the family. This type of loss can lead to intense confusion, frozen grief, and a prolonged sense of helplessness.
Marchell smiling, sitting on a couch, holding notebooks

Marchell’s Story

By Dan Lewis Foundation • December 2, 2025
Marchell is an engaging and energetic middle-aged man who was enthusiastic about being interviewed for the DLF newsletter. He is an activist working to promote the rights and well-being of persons in the brain injury community, with a particular emphasis on helping persons with brain injury who are incarcerated or have been released from prison. Marchell is a successful businessman, proud of the company he co-founded--the Association of Young Business Owners (AYBOS), a marketing company in the Denver, Colorado area. He also works for Well Power (Denver’s Mental Health Center system) as a Zero Suicide Certified Peer and Family Specialist.  Marchell is clearly a man on the move to get a lot of positive things done. But this wasn’t always the case. Marchell spent much of his younger adult life incarcerated himself for a variety of crimes including robbery and assault. He had a history of recidivism following multiple releases.