Psychedelic Precision Medicine Research with Veterans

Purpose: The California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine (CIAPM) within the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) will award $4 million to support approximately two project teams (up to $2 million per team) conducting psychedelic research with veterans in California over a three- to four-year project term. Description: Timeline RFA Release: November 10, 2026 RFA Informational Webinar and Q&A: December 2, 2026 (1:00pm PT) Letter of Intent Deadline: December 18, 2026 (3:00pm PT) Initial Application Deadline: February 19, 2027 (3:00pm PT) Notification of Finalists: April 23, 2027 Full Application Deadline: June 4, 2027 (3:00pm PT) Notification of Awards: July 2027 (earliest possible) Awards Start: August 2027 (earliest possible) Awards End: August 2030 or 2031 Projects will be selected through a three-stage process, involving: (1) submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to submit an application (required, but not scored), (2) submission of an Initial Application, and (3) submission of a Full Application. By the LOI stage, partnerships are recommended but not required. By the Initial Application stage, partnerships are a required component of the application. Additional matching funds and in-kind contributions are highly encouraged and will be considered during the selection process. This funding opportunity aims to support research projects that advance precision medicine in psychedelics research, engage and impact veterans, aim to reduce health disparities, and leverage team expertise and partnerships. CIAPM developed this RFA in coordination and collaboration with the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). Specifically, projects should focus on one of the following: 1. A new psychedelic-based (1) clinical trial, (2) clinical research study, or (3) study based on tribal practices and traditions, that focuses on veterans. 2. Expansion of an existing psychedelic-based (1) clinical trial, (2) clinical research study, or (3) study based on tribal practices and traditions, that supports greater focus on veterans. Projects must be co-led by a California non-profit public or private academic research institution and at least one California-based nonprofit community-based organization, veterans organization, community clinic, or non-state public or tribal entity, including facilities administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, that provides support for veterans and adds lived experience, expertise, and/or community or data assets. Partnerships should aim to break down silos between academic institutions and communities, effectively integrate community perspectives to ground the research in the real-world needs of veteran communities, and foster co-learning in which partners’ strengths and capacity needs are acknowledged for meaningful integration of perspectives. Partnership authenticity should be evident from project conception to completion and beyond. The applicant must describe how their application advances precision medicine in psychedelics research, engages and impacts veterans, aims to reduce health disparities, and leverages team expertise and partnerships. The proposed research must include a deliverable of a precision medicine asset, such as new data. Projects must take place in California, and the project must focus on people that live in California but are not limited to only California populations. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit Public Agency The Primary Institution must be a California non-profit public or private academic research institution. Projects must be co-led by at least one California-based nonprofit community-based organization, veterans organization, community clinic, or non-state public or tribal entity, including VA facilities. At least one Partner Organization must have a minimum of five years of experience serving veterans.

Purpose: The California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine (CIAPM) within the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) will award $4 million to support approximately two project teams (up to $2 million per team) conducting psychedelic research with veterans in California over a three- to four-year project term. Description: Timeline RFA Release: November 10, 2026 RFA Informational Webinar and Q&A: December 2, 2026 (1:00pm PT) Letter of Intent Deadline: December 18, 2026 (3:00pm PT) Initial Application Deadline: February 19, 2027 (3:00pm PT) Notification of Finalists: April 23, 2027 Full Application Deadline: June 4, 2027 (3:00pm PT) Notification of Awards: July 2027 (earliest possible) Awards Start: August 2027 (earliest possible) Awards End: August 2030 or 2031 Projects will be selected through a three-stage process, involving: (1) submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to submit an application (required, but not scored), (2) submission of an Initial Application, and (3) submission of a Full Application. By the LOI stage, partnerships are recommended but not required. By the Initial Application stage, partnerships are a required component of the application. Additional matching funds and in-kind contributions are highly encouraged and will be considered during the selection process.