UCSD Professors Seek Epstein’s Funding for Telepathy Research

Professors at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) sought funding from the late financier Jeffrey Epstein to conduct research exploring the potential telepathic abilities of autistic children. This relationship, which began with a funding request in 2010 and culminated in a $50,000 check from Epstein in 2017, has raised significant concerns about ethical considerations in academia.

The initial outreach to Epstein was made by V.S. Ramachandran, a prominent neuroscientist and director of UCSD’s Center for Brain and Cognition. Despite Epstein’s legal history as a convicted sex offender, Ramachandran and his colleagues, including Deepak Chopra and Paul Mills, resumed contact with him several years later to secure funding for their research into autism and telepathy.

In their study, Ramachandran and the team aimed to investigate claims that some autistic children possess unique cognitive abilities, including telepathy. Ramachandran expressed his lack of concern regarding Epstein’s funding in an email to Chopra, stating, “I don’t have a problem with my lab being funded by Epstein.” This correspondence was revealed in a recent document release by the U.S. Department of Justice containing millions of emails linked to Epstein.

The fallout from these revelations has been extensive. Laura Margoni, a spokesperson for UCSD, confirmed the university’s awareness of Epstein’s connections to faculty members and stated that the matter is under review. She emphasized that the campus does not support fundraising from convicted sex offenders, noting that UCSD has no record of a gift from Epstein or his foundation, the Gratitude Foundation.

Chopra characterized his interactions with Epstein as “limited and unrelated to abusive activity.” He acknowledged past email exchanges that reflected “poor judgment in tone,” expressing regret for how they are perceived today. Aaron Marion, a spokesperson for Chopra, confirmed that the $50,000 check was returned but did not provide documentation of the refund.

While Ramachandran did not respond to requests for comments, Mills expressed shock upon learning of Epstein’s involvement, labeling it “utterly disturbing.” Mills, who has retired from UCSD, stated that he was not aware of Epstein until contacted by the media.

Email exchanges also illustrated how Epstein’s financial influence extended to other esteemed institutions, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. Many academics continued to engage with Epstein long after his convictions, leading to professional consequences for some, including the resignation of Larry Summers from Harvard.

In the context of this research, Mills described a pilot study involving a 12-year-old boy and his mother, where he explored the boy’s ability to identify numbers without visual cues. Though he acknowledged that the concept of telepathy is inconsistent with mainstream scientific views, Mills maintained a willingness to investigate the phenomenon.

Critics have raised concerns about the motivations behind Epstein’s interest in such studies, particularly given his documented interest in eugenics. Kristen Bottema-Beutel, a professor at Boston College, questioned whether Epstein’s support stemmed from genuine scientific curiosity or a more exploitative agenda.

In light of Epstein’s connections and the controversial nature of the research, UCSD has not provided specifics on whether the telepathy study underwent ethical review by its institutional review board. This lack of oversight has further complicated the narrative surrounding the research.

As the implications of Epstein’s funding practices continue to unfold, the academic community grapples with the intersection of ethics, funding, and research integrity. The case serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of securing financial support for unconventional studies, particularly when such support comes from individuals with troubling histories.