Letter from DLF Co-Directors
Hal C. Lewis, Ph.D. & David Margulies, M.D.

The overarching goal of the Dan Lewis Foundation for Brain Regeneration Research (the DLF) has been, for the past five years, to support biomedical and biotechnological discoveries that will bring the promise of regenerating and repairing the seriously damaged brain into reality. We pursue this goal by sponsoring neuroscientific conferences, publishing a quarterly newsletter, funding early career scientists with the DLF Prize program, sharing promising research nationwide, and posting brain injury information on social media. We strongly believe that biomedical and biotechnological solutions and options for regenerating the seriously injured brain are not only possible but inevitable. The key question is not an “if” question but rather a “how soon” question.


Unfortunately, the current U.S. administration has adopted a somewhat negative stance towards the sciences in general, including the health sciences and biomedical research. With disregard for the way scientific knowledge accumulates, the budget slashers at DOGE, under the direction of the President and his Cabinet, have threatened serious cuts to NIH and NIMH research grants as well as to funds supporting students and faculty in neuroscience and biomedical training programs. Serious cuts to funding have already been made and further reductions can be expected. This short-sighted policy approach will significantly delay important discoveries across various scientific fields. Specifically, for DLF’s constituency, discoveries and related clinical trials that were potentially only a few years away may now be postponed by 5 to 10 years.


The DLF continues to stand in support of neuroscientific and biomedical programs, their students, trainees, faculty, and researchers that have contributed so much to the field of regenerating the damaged brain. If you visit our website—danlewisfoundation.org—you will see “Donate” buttons scattered throughout the content. Please consider a donation, no matter how small or large—to help us continue our work to catalyze progress in brain regeneration research and to urge policy makers to correct course and return to solid support of biomedical and biotechnological advances that will be of so much value to the American public and to persons with serious brain injuries worldwide.

Hal C. Lewis Ph.D.

DLF Co-Director

Donate

David Margulies, M.D,

DLF Co-Director

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!