The W. Alden Spencer Award is awarded to an investigator in recognition of outstanding research contributions by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Department of Neuroscience, and The Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University. It is named after W. Alden Spencer, a Professor of Physiology and Neurology at Columbia University. The award winner also gives a lecture. In 2018, it took place at on October 9, 2018.