Usona Institute was founded in 2014 by Bill Linton and Malynn Utzinger, MD, in Madison, Wisconsin, inspired by Bill witnessing the transformation of a friend and neighbor who participated in a Johns Hopkins study for people with terminal cancer, going from depression and chronic anxiety to lasting ease and calm. Today, Usona has approximately 30 full- and part-time employees and consultants holding depth of expertise and experience in depression, psychedelics, facilitation, conducting clinical studies, developing pharmaceutical-grade products, and working with the FDA. The team regularly collaborates and engages with global thought leaders in a variety of scientific fields. As a commercial sponsor, Usona holds responsibility for all aspects of its drug development programs, including study designs and protocols, data and safety monitoring, and overseeing all preclinical and clinical studies—a direct level of engagement with the work that differs from foundations and grant-making entities that strictly provide financial support.
Why it matters: Witnessing a single person’s transformation through psychedelic-assisted therapy can inspire the creation of an organization dedicated to bringing those benefits to others, translating personal conviction into rigorous pharmaceutical development. As a commercial sponsor rather than a grant-making foundation, Usona takes direct responsibility for all aspects of drug development programs, ensuring that psychedelic medicines move through the FDA approval process with the same rigor and expertise as conventional pharmaceuticals while collaborating with global thought leaders to advance the field.
