One of the most exciting ways the IPN advances psychedelic and neurotherapeutic science is through our Pilot Grant Program. These awards are designed to spark bold, early-stage ideas, giving researchers the flexibility to explore new questions, generate preliminary data, and lay the groundwork for larger external funding. From identifying new mechanisms and models to new ways of understanding brain plasticity, pilot grants help turn curiosity into momentum.
This year’s pilot grant recipients and their teams reflect the breadth and ambition of the IPN community. Their projects span disciplines and approaches, but share a common goal: advancing rigorous, innovative science that could reshape how we understand and treat neurological conditions and improve mental health. We’re excited to highlight the investigators and ideas made possible through the inaugural year of this program.
Introducing our 2025 pilot grant recipients:
Roy Ben-Shalom
Neurology, UC Davis School of Medicine
Diasynou Fioravante
UC Davis Center for Neuroscience
Alec Follmer
UC Davis Department of Chemistry
Gene Gurkoff
Neurological Surgery, UC Davis School of Medicine
Johannes Hell
Pharmacology, UC Davis School of Medicine
Karl Murray
Physiology, UC Davis School of Medicine
Jill Silverman
Psychiatry, UC Davis School of Medicine
Danielle Stolzenberg