Grateful for All Who Advance Science for Societal Good

As 2024 comes to a close, there is a lot to reflect on when it comes to the Dana Foundation’s journey toward enhancing the positive impact of neuroscience on society. For one, we were delighted to announce the launch of the Dana Center Initiative for Neuroscience & Society this past spring, just three-and-a-half years into our refined mission. Through this signature initiative and our complementary pilot grants, we continue working to bridge the gap between research done in labs and the people whose lives might be impacted by these advances.

As a foundation, we make our impact not only through grantmaking, but also through what we call “field-building.” We partner with a range of organizations, and our staff directly collaborate to raise awareness about the importance of including perspectives from communities and disciplines outside of science, such as ethics, law, and social sciences.  

Looking back on the year, I’m excited to share some highlights made possible by the dedication of Dana Foundation staff, Board Directors, grantees, partners, and others who have journeyed with us to push neuroscience forward for the betterment of people and communities everywhere.

2024 Dana Neuroscience & Society Highlights

• Dana Center Initiative Announced in Partnership with Loyola University Chicago, Mass General Brigham, and University of California, Los Angeles Together with Charles Drew University. Each site aligns closely with one of the Dana Foundation’s core pillars: education (Loyola), training the next generation of scholars and scientists (MGB), and public engagement (UCLA-CDU). The Dana Center Initiative received coverage in Nature, EnMedia magazine as a cover story (feature on pages 22-25), an NPR segment, and Inside Philanthropy, among other outlets.
• Inaugural Dana Center Initiative grantee meeting held in conjunction with the Society for Neuroscience annual conference. A highlight of the conference was the inaugural Dana Center Initiative (DCI) Grantee Meeting, which brought together the three sites spearheading the DCI vision to create a new paradigm for neuroscience that centers societal goals and community values throughout the research process. The DCI meeting was a full-day event, where grantees had a chance to meet one another in person, present their work, and discuss the early outcomes and impact of their research. Read more about the meeting here.
• Partnership with the European Brain Council for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Science Summit’s Neuroscience & Society Event in New York City. In September, the Foundation hosted a panel, “Applying Neuroscience in the Courtroom,” featuring neuroscience and law experts Deborah Denno (Fordham University), Diego Alejandro Borbón Rodríguez (Universidad Externado de Colombia), Oliver Rollins (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Judge Gloria Tan (Massachusetts Juvenile Court). The Science Summit is an event that brings together scientists, policymakers, and innovators to confront the pressing scientific and technological challenges of our time. Watch the recording of the neurolaw panel (start time 4:38:52).
• Envisioning the Future of Neuroscience and Celebrating the US Brain Initiative’s 10-Year Milestone. In June, the BRAIN Initiative Conference brought together BRAIN Initiative awardees, staff, leadership from federal and non-federal agencies, and passionate advocates of neuroscience and BRAIN-funded research. The Dana Foundation is a proud member of the BRAIN Initiative Alliance, and I serve as a member of the BRAIN Initiative Neuroethics Working Group. I was honored to participate in a panel reflecting on the past and future of the BRAIN Initiative with Francis Collins (US science advisor to the President), Eddie Chang (BRAIN Initiative grantee), and Cori Bargmann and Bill Newsome (co-chairs of the BRAIN 2025 vision report). Watch the recorded panel here.
• Partnership with the Science Philanthropy Alliance to Lead Collaborative Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Policy. The Dana Foundation hosted more than 100 foundation leaders and staff in New York City this past spring for a meeting that explored philanthropy’s role in strengthening the relationship between science and society. As a follow-up, I discussed the Dana Center Initiative as a model for cross-disciplinary collaboration and community engagement to enhance neuroscience research and expand its societal benefits in an interview for the Science Philanthropy Alliance.
• New Video Series Launches to Showcase Interdisciplinary Connections in Neuroscience. We launched “NeuroSociety Stories” this year where guests are invited to share their unique stories and experiences in the brain science space. For our two most recent episodes, I had the pleasure of speaking with neurolaw pioneer, Francis Shen, to learn about his interdisciplinary career journey from law to neuroscience, as well as to discuss the early accomplishments of the Dana Career Network for Neuroscience & Society, which he founded in 2023 with support from Dana. I also had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer French, Founder and Executive Director of the Neurotech Network, as well as Paralympic medalist, who speaks about her co-leadership of an initiative, the iBCI-CC, focused on advancing safe and effective development of implantable brain-computer interface technologies. Watch all episodes of NeuroSociety Stories on our YouTube channel.
• Dana.org Awarded for Excellence in Purpose-driven Work, Communication, and Societal Impact. Our website received a Bronze Anthem Award in the Health category to signify notable achievement and impact in raising awareness, educating, and collaborating to improve health outcomes and access. The Anthem Awards celebrate and highlight social impact work happening around the globe and was founded by the Webby Awards, the leading international award honoring excellence on the internet. This year’s winners were selected from over 2,300 submissions from 34 countries. Additionally, our website was recognized with a silver w3 Award in the science category which highlights the work gone into producing impactful digital content to successfully bridge science and society.
• New Dana Neuroscience & Society Fellows Join the Foundation. This past fall, we said goodbye to two of our inaugural Dana Fellows, Farron McIntee and Rachel Wurzman, who played essential roles in the Dana NextGen and Dana Frontiers programs. With their departure, we were delighted to welcome two new Dana Fellows to the NextGen and Frontiers programs: Chinmayi Balusu, MPH, and Mia Thomaidou, Ph.D. Chinmayi has a background in neuroepidemiology, medical humanities, and neuroscience education. Mia has a background in neuroscience, psychology, and criminology. Both will bring beneficial interdisciplinary perspectives to our team.

Remembering Burton M. Mirsky

Despite the many highlights this past year, I would also like to acknowledge the passing of an integral member of the Dana Foundation staff who contributed to its rich history and impact in the field. Burton M. Mirsky joined the Dana Foundation in 1996, as chief financial officer and assistant secretary to the board of directors. He served as president of the Foundation from 2017 to 2021.

Looking Ahead

Next year is a major milestone for the Dana Foundation, celebrating our 75^th year as a philanthropic organization. Stay tuned for announcements and events from related to our anniversary year. I look forward to not only celebrating the Foundation’s past impact, but also collaborating with partners, grantees, and others to incorporate a greater range of perspectives—from patients, local communities, and non-STEM disciplines—into neuroscience, so that the field can increasingly benefit the people it is meant to serve.

Thank you for your continued engagement with the Dana Foundation’s mission. Wishing you a warm and restful holiday season.