California will award up to $4 million for psychedelic treatment research involving veterans.
The California Initiative for Precision Medicine, part of the California Health and Human Services Agency, opened a request for applications to fund partnerships between the state’s nonprofit academic research institutions and veteran communities. Funded teams will conduct their projects over three to four years.
The grants will prioritize precision medicine — treatments matched to the individual — along with direct veteran involvement and narrowing gaps in health outcomes. California is home to nearly 1.5 million veterans.
Lindsey Sin, secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, said engaging veterans directly in the research can “deepen our understanding of psychedelic treatments and their potential to improve health outcomes.” Gov. Gavin Newsom said “too many veterans have suffered for too long.”
The state cited U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data showing 41.9% of recent VA healthcare users had a documented mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis in 2021.
The funding comes from AB 113, a budget trailer bill Mr. Newsom signed this year. The bill marks the third consecutive year California has passed legislation supporting psychedelic research, following AB 1103 in October 2025, which expedited research approvals, and AB 2841 in 2024, which removed certain research barriers.
Applicants must submit a nonbinding letter of intent by Dec. 18, followed by an initial application due Feb. 19, 2027.
The California Initiative for Precision Medicine launched in 2015 to support individually targeted prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, including addressing veterans’ behavioral health.
At the Becker's Fall Behavioral Health Summit, taking place November 4–5 in Chicago, behavioral health leaders and executives will explore strategies for expanding access to care, integrating services, addressing workforce challenges and leveraging innovation to improve outcomes across the behavioral health continuum. Apply for complimentary registration now.
