THE BRAINY-BUNCH where PASSION MEETS PURPOSE
Dan Lewis Foundation | Fall 2023

"The Brainy-Bunch," a dedicated group of social media influencers and college students, has taken up the mantle as volunteers to support The Dan Lewis Foundation for Brain Regeneration Research (DLF). Their journey began with a visit to a prominent research lab, Quiver Biosciences, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as they embarked on the initial steps to raise awareness and fundraise for research to support traumatic brain injury repair and regeneration. Dr. Roy Maimon, a post-doctoral research scientist at the University of California San Diego and the first recipient of the Dan Lewis Prize, joined the group in Cambridge and gave an interactive presentation on his current research on neuro-regeneration. He provided the non-science group with the novel science behind his current research on neuro regeneration.


This remarkable collaboration between The Brainy-Bunch and the (DLF) highlights the powerful potential of partnerships between social media influencers and the scientific community in propelling medical advancements forward. The social media influencers have the audience, and the scientific community has the expertise, with a commitment to work together to change the course of treatment for those in the brain injury community. At Quiver Biosciences, The BrainyBunch was privy to firsthand experiences of the groundbreaking research spearheaded by eminent figures in neuroscience. Dr. Graham Dempsey and Dr. David Margulies, pioneers in their own right, are at the helm of efforts to revolutionize the critical work for brain trauma repair. The DLF seeks to catalyze brain regeneration research and is working with multiple world-class scientists in that quest.


This unique collaboration seeks to raise awareness and funds to support cutting-edge research that holds promise that brain repair and regeneration, once thought impossible, is now plausible. At the same time, the partnership has kindled a flame of hope that actively supports and champions scientific endeavors. Through their expansive reach on social media platforms, The Brainy-Bunch has a unique opportunity to disseminate critical information about brain regeneration research, acting as a bridge between the scientific community and the general public. In the coming months, it is anticipated that this collaboration will bear fruit, generating a swell of support and funding that will catapult brain trauma research into new frontiers. With the backing of the Brainy-Bunch, the DLF hopes to accelerate the pace of research, drawing us ever closer to a world where medications will one day help the human brain to heal itself.


As the journey continues, it will be exciting to witness the synergy between influencers and scientists, a testament to the power of unity in advancing the cause of medical science. The Brainy-Bunch, with its vibrant personalities, wide-reaching influence, and the brilliant minds of world-class scientists working together, is poised to usher in a new era of hope and progress in traumatic brain injury regeneration and repair. The partnership between the Brainy-Bunch and the Dan Lewis Foundation exemplifies how modern influencers can wield their power for the greater good while making tangible differences in the real world. The collaboration serves as a reminder that when passion meets purpose, amazing things can happen. 

A man is holding a fish in his hand in front of a lake.

Devon’s Journey – Two Years Post-Accident

By Dan Lewis Foundation • November 6, 2024
After a life-altering accident in October 2022, Devon Guffey’s story is about resilience and determination. His journey has been profiled in the summer 2023 issue of the Making Headway Newsletter: https://www.danlewisfoundation.org/devons-story . Hit by a drunk driver, Devon sustained severe brain and physical injuries, including axonal shearing, a traumatic frontal lobe injury, and facial fractures. Even after contracting meningitis while in a coma, Devon fought hard to survive – and today, his recovery continues to inspire us all. In late 2023, Devon worked as an assistant basketball coach at Blue River Valley, where he had once been a student. His love for sports and dedication to regaining his physical strength returned him to the gym, where his hard work paid off. Devon’s persistence earned him another job at the YMCA, guiding gym members and supporting facility upkeep. Through all the challenges—deafness in one ear, blindness in one eye, and a permanent loss of taste and smell—Devon perseveres. He recently regained his driving license, a significant milestone that symbolizes his increasing independence and cognitive and physical recovery. While each day may not show significant changes, Devon now sees his progress over time. Today, Devon speaks to groups about his journey, the dangers of drunk driving, and finding strength in adversity. His message is clear: recovery is a process, and sometimes, "can't" simply means "can't do it yet ." Every TBI is unique, and Devon’s story powerfully reminds us of the strength that comes from resilience and community. We are grateful to Devon for continuing to share his story and for his role in uplifting others facing difficult paths. His journey is a testament to the fact that we are stronger together. #BrainInjuryAwareness #DevonsJourney #Resilience #EndDrunkDriving #MakingHeadway
A close up of a brain with a lot of cells and a purple background.

Advancing Brain Regeneration Therapies

By Dan Lewis Foundation | Summer 2024 • July 10, 2024
Scientists worldwide are working to find ways to stimulate healing and functional recovery after severe brain injuries. This work is driven by the desperate needs of persons who have suffered brain damage. It is inspired by the knowledge that the information required to create new brain cells, cause these cells to interconnect, and stimulate new learning is contained in our genome. Now that we can readily generate stem cells from adult tissue, we have access to the genomic program that can control all of the intricate details of brain tissue formation. A number of different research themes are being pursued productively. These include: (1) enabling injured neurons to self-repair (“axonal repair”) 1,2 ; (2) replacing damaged tissue by increasing the growth of new neurons (“neurogenesis”) 3-5 ; (3) transplanting new brain cells that are derived from a person’s own stem cells (“autologous cellular repletion”) 6-8 ; (4) stimulating the re-wiring of new or surviving tissue by encouraging the formation of new connections (“synaptogenesis”) 9,10 ; and (5) augmenting the function of a damaged brain by the use of bio-computational prostheses (“brain-computer interfaces”) 11,12 ; We’ve explored these themes in previous newsletters. The goal of stimulating meaningful brain regeneration is now sufficiently plausible that a large-scale, well-funded campaign needs to be funded to bring meaningful new therapies to patients within the foreseeable future. Here, we suggest a high-level outline of the research themes for such a campaign. A ‘moon shot’ program towards brain regeneration would leverage cutting-edge technologies in stem cell research, gene therapy, synaptic plasticity, neuronal repair, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to develop innovative treatments for brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. These treatments would target the restoration of lost brain functions and improvement in the quality of life for individuals affected by severe brain injuries. This research agenda aims to catalyze serious discussion about creating a federal program with funding, organizational resources, and expert governance to enable brain regeneration in our lifetimes. Major Themes For a Brain Regeneration “Moon Shot” Program 1: Promote the formation of new neurons 1.1 Stimulate the brain to create new neurons 1.2 Create new neurons from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells to be transplanted back into the patient. Create new glial cells to support neurogenesis. 2: Stimulate new synaptic formation 2.1 Develop drugs that enhance synaptic plasticity and promote the formation of new synaptic connections 3: Stimulate self-repair of damaged neurons 3.1 Develop drugs that de-repress neurons and, thereby, enable axonal regrowth 4: Develop brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for brain-injured patients 4.1: Develop and test BCIs that enable the brain to control behaviors or external devices and, thereby, augment or replace impaired functions. 4.2: Develop and test BCIs that can accelerate the training of remapped brain tissue in persons with brain injuries to optimize functional recovery. 4.3: Combine BCIs with other strategies (e.g., cell repletion, synaptogenesis, and enhanced plasticity) to accelerate adaptation and functional improvement. The proposed research themes can underpin targeted research to stimulate meaningful brain regeneration, offering new hope for patients with brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. While the scientific challenges are profound, there has been sufficient progress to justify substantial investment in brain regeneration research. Any such large-scale program will require coordinated collaborations among academic and commercial partners, skillful governance and management, and a shared sense of profound commitment to the goal. The recent pace of advances in cell biology, stem cell technology, bio-computational interfaces, and genomically targeting medicines suggests that large-scale investment will yield meaningful clinical advances toward brain regeneration after injury. With robust funding and skilled leadership, this comprehensive research agenda has a realistic potential to transform scientific breakthroughs into tangible medical therapies, offering hope to millions affected by brain damage.
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