Family’s tragedy spurs UCLA neuroscience fellowship to bridge biology and mental illness
The Nelson family donates $2.4 million to UCLA Health to establish the Brandon Nelson Fellowship in Translational and Clinical Neuroscience at the Semel Institute, aiming to connect genetics and neurobiology with clinical treatment for psychosis, bipolar disorder and other serious mental illnesses. The gift comes from an $11 million settlement after a wrongful-death lawsuit related to Sovereign Health, and the family advocates stronger quality standards for private mental-health programs, building on Brandon’s Law passed in 2021. Administered by UCLA Health and the Semel Institute and led by researchers like Dr. Stephen Marder and Dr. Daniel Geschwind, the fellowship seeks bench-to-bedside training and may leverage AI to discover new interventions.”,