California Opens Up to $4 Million in Funding for Psychedelic Treatment Research to Improve Veterans' Health
The Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom announced in Sacramento on November 10 that California is making up to $4 million available to fund research into psychedelic treatments to improve veterans' health. The California Initiative for Precision Medicine (CIAPM) has opened a Request for Applications (RFA) to fund projects run through partnerships between California non-profit academic research institutions and veteran communities, studying personalized treatment approaches and aiming to reduce disparities in health outcomes.
California is home to nearly 1.5 million veterans, one of the largest veteran populations in the country. The governor's office said recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of certain psychedelics in treating depression, anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, and that some studies have shown great promise for treating veterans with PTSD. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 41.9% of recent veteran users of VA health care had a documented mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis in 2021.
"California is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the country, and to some of the best research institutions in the world. It's time to put California innovation to good use and push the boundaries of medical knowledge and treatments; too many veterans have suffered for too long. Caring for our veterans is more than just our duty; it's about respect. And no one respects our veterans more than California," Governor Newsom said.
Lindsey Sin, Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, said veterans' unique life experiences can shape their health and treatment needs, and that engaging veterans directly in the research process can deepen understanding of psychedelic treatments. Kim Johnson, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, said the initiative brings leading researchers and veteran communities together to explore promising new approaches to care. Dr. David Reiner, Chief Science Officer of CIAPM, said applying a precision medicine approach ensures insights about the whole person and their lived experience.
Funding for the research was allocated by AB 113, a budget trailer bill Governor Newsom signed earlier this year, marking the third consecutive year the state has advanced legislation supporting research into these emerging treatments: AB 1103, signed in October 2025, expedited California's psychedelic research approval process, and AB 2841, signed in 2024, eliminated certain barriers to research in the state. The RFA will award up to $4 million in total to project teams conducting research with veterans in California over three to four years.
Applicants must submit a non-binding, non-scored Letter of Intent by December 18, 2026, followed by an initial application due February 19, 2027; details are on the CIAPM website at ciapm.chhs.ca.gov. The governor's office said Newsom has invested more than $10.5 billion across state government since 2019 to support veterans, including housing, mental health and crisis support.
(Source: Office of the Governor of California)
Source: Office of the Governor of California
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Sacramento 的加州议会大厦穹顶（GSM 固定图库穹顶特写构图）。 / Photo: Dome of the California State Capitol in Sacramento (GSM asset library, dome close-up framing).
