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REWIRED is an investigation into a promising and experimental brain treatment that upended the lives of the doctor who developed it and the Navy SEAL who had a psychotic break after receiving it. The reporting, initially published in early 2020, offered the first public description of a University of California investigation into how a $10 million gift to study the treatment went horribly wrong at one of America’s premier research universities.

Read the two-part investigation below or watch our new documentary film.

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AN EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN TREATMENT BLOWS UP TWO LIVES

A novel but unproven treatment is at the center of a confidential University of California Office of the President investigation, lawsuits and a Navy SEAL's psychotic break. Using thousands of pages of university and medical records, arrest reports, research proposals, emails and leaked documents, reporters put together a comprehensive picture of a nearly unbelievable story.

How to squander a $10 million donation from a dead man

In 2015, a San Diego philanthropist died of cancer and left behind millions of dollars for UC San Diego, one of the top research institutions in the U.S. Almost half of the money has been spent and the university has little to show for it.

Top 7 things you should know about the REWIRED investigation

REWIRED is a two-part investigation that details an experimental brain treatment, a Navy SEAL’s psychotic break and an internal investigation at the University of California San Diego. Since the investigation is a lengthy read, here are the top seven takeaways.

UCSD PROBE OF PROMINENT DOCTOR IS OVER. HERE ARE THE FINDINGS.

A UC San Diego doctor – who was the centerpiece of an inewsource investigation this year – violated a litany of university policies while developing and researching his experimental brain treatment.

UCSD and former vice chair go to court over $10 million gift

The University of California has sued Dr. Kevin Murphy, alleging fraud, concealment and misappropriation of a $10 million research gift meant to study an experimental brain treatment.

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Credits

Written and reported by Brad Racino and Jill Castellano.

Documentary, photos and video by Zoë Meyers.

Web design and development by Shyla Nott.

Edited by Lorie Hearn and Laura Wingard.

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