Etheridge Foundation Collaborates with UC Irvine

Melissa speaks at the Etheridge Foundation’s October 2024 UCI event

The Etheridge Foundation is collaborating with the University of California Irvine (UC Irvine) to create the University’s first Center for Transformative Healing of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

Our shared goal is to establish a first-of-its-kind research center dedicated to pioneering plant-based medicine and psychedelic therapies for OUD. This collaboration brings together world-class research expertise, global advocacy, and a shared commitment to reshaping addiction treatment.

The Center will lead the way in advancing scientific research, policy advocacy, and real-world implementation of these transformative therapies.

UC Irvine is uniquely positioned to lead this effort, serving as a world-class hub for interdisciplinary research, education, and policy transformation—bringing together experts in pharmacy, cognitive and behavioral sciences, integrative medicine, public health, and policy research to drive groundbreaking solutions.

Together, this partnership merges scientific expertise with advocacy and philanthropy, accelerating progress toward breakthrough treatments. By bridging science, policy, and patient-centered innovation, this collaboration will not only generate new knowledge but also ensure that plant-based therapies are rigorously studied, ethically integrated, and made accessible to those who need them most.

If you are a philanthropist interested in supporting this effort, please contact us.