Rose and Allen Nelson have committed $2.4 million to UCLA Health to establish the Brandon Nelson Fellowship in Translational and Clinical Neuroscience, according to a Mar. 25 announcement from the university. The fellowship will be based at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, honoring their late son Brandon, a 2014 graduate who died by suicide in 2018.
The new fellowship aims to support advanced research into serious mental illnesses such as psychosis and bipolar disorder, providing training for future leaders in neuropsychiatry. This initiative is designed to improve understanding of these conditions and develop treatments that could prevent or change their course.
The program will be led by Dr. Stephen Marder, Michael Green, and Dr. Daniel Geschwind of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, bringing together expertise in psychiatry, genetics, neurology, and clinical care. Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health and CEO of its hospital system said: “UCLA Health is deeply grateful to Rose and Allen Nelson for their generosity, and we are honored to name this fellowship in memory of Brandon. The Brandon Nelson Fellowship in Translational and Clinical Neuroscience will have far-reaching influence on the career paths of a new generation of investigators who can connect genetic and basic neuroscience discovery to the development of clinical interventions.”
Brandon Nelson’s death followed his stay at a California-licensed residential facility that his family said failed to deliver on promises of quality mental health care. The family received an $11 million wrongful death settlement after legal action against the organization involved.
Allen Nelson said: “Over a three-month period, my family experienced the worst of California’s and our nation’s private-pay mental health system…We hope our investment in this enduring fellowship will help other families avoid experiences like ours.” Dr. Helena Hansen added: “The Brandon Nelson Fellowship in Translational and Clinical Neuroscience will be a vital resource for young neuroscientists and an enduring tribute to Brandon that will hopefully prevent situations like his.”
UCLA has been associated with Nobel laureates, MacArthur Fellows,according to its official website. The university has also gained national acclaim through achievements across scholarship, arts, athletics,according to its official website. Its campus spans 419 acres supporting academic activities,according to its official website, fostering diverse perspectives through academic programs.According to its official website, it operates within the University of California system.
