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Dr. Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW
Dr. Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW is Endowed Professor in Health Sciences at the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Center for Addiction Science and Treatment at the University of California San Diego, and Director of UCSD ONEMIND (Optimized Neuroscience-Enhanced Intervention Design). Formerly, Dr. Garland served as the Distinguished Endowed Chair in Research, Distinguished Professor, and Associate Dean for Research in the University of Utah College of Social Work and Associate Director of Integrative Medicine in Supportive Oncology and Survivorship at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Dr. Garland is the developer of an innovative mindfulness-based intervention founded on insights derived from cognitive, affective, and neurobiological science, called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE). As Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator, he has received more than $90 million in research grants from a variety of prestigious entities including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to conduct bio-behavioral clinical trials to develop and test novel integrative health interventions, including trials of MORE as a treatment for addiction and chronic pain. In recognition of his expertise in mindfulness research, in 2012 Dr. Garland was named Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute, the world’s premier, multidisciplinary organization for the scientific study of contemplative practices, and in 2019 was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. Dr. Garland served as Chair of the Research Working Group of the National Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health, and in 2019 was appointed by NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins to the NIH HEAL Multi-Disciplinary Working Group comprised of national experts on pain and addiction research to help guide the nation’s $2+ billion HEAL initiative to use science to halt the opioid crisis. Dr. Garland has briefed federal policymakers on MORE as a treatment to halt the opioid crisis: in 2023, Dr. Garland briefed the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and in 2024, he was invited to the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill to brief the Congressional Addiction Treatment and Recovery Caucus.
Dr. Garland has had over 270 scientific articles and book chapters published in respected, peer-reviewed outlets. In a recent bibliometric analysis of mindfulness research published over the past 55 years, Dr. Garland was found to be the most prolific author of mindfulness research in the world. His work has been covered in multiple news outlets, including CNN, the New York Times, Time, National Public Radio (NPR), the LA Times, and U.S. News and World Report.
To complement his expertise in clinical research, Dr. Garland is a licensed psychotherapist (LCSW) with more than 20 years of clinical experience working with persons suffering from addictive behaviors, mood disorders, traumatic stress, chronic pain, and psychosomatic conditions. He has provided mindfulness-based therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and clinical hypnosis for these patients across a wide range of integrative medicine and mental health settings. In recognition of his expertise as a psychotherapist, in 2015 Dr. Garland was elected Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice.
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Kelly Hendrickson, M.S., LASUDC, ACRP-CP
Kelly Hendrickson is a licensed professional with over a decade of experience in mental health therapy, clinical assessment, and research. At UC San Diego, she serves as a Clinical Research Supervisor, currently overseeing therapists and clinical research staff on studies focused on innovative treatments for addiction and chronic pain. She also serves as the lead clinician delivering Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE)—a therapeutic intervention developed by Dr. Eric Garland—in multiple studies addressing addiction and chronic pain. Previously, Kelly contributed to groundbreaking research on Alzheimer's Disease and a range of mental health conditions, gaining extensive experience in clinical trial design and patient-centered care. A MAPS-trained clinician, she is skilled in providing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and has supported numerous participants through psychedelic sessions in research settings. Kelly is passionate about advancing mental health care through evidence-based, transformative therapeutics.
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Hannah Pfeffer, LMSW
Hannah Pfeffer is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and clinical research coordinator who has been working in behavioral health research since 2017. She has contributed to studies focused on psychedelic-assisted therapies, as well as clinical research in chronic pain and opioid use disorder. Her work includes serving as both a coordinator and therapist on studies using Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE).
Based in Connecticut, Hannah enjoys spending her time outside of work gardening, teaching spin classes, hunting, fishing, needlepointing, and paddleboarding with her dog.
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Emily Hearne, MSW, LCSW
Emily is a clinical research coordinator-assistant and holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Utah and is currently a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) working with children, teens, and families at a private clinic in Utah. Her current research interests focus on the application of mindfulness techniques for managing chronic pain, smoking, and substance use. Looking ahead, Emily is particularly interested in exploring mindfulness as a therapeutic tool for self-harm and investigating the relationship between pain, substance use, and mental health in teens and young adults.
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Kobe Hanson, B.S.
Kobe is a research associate and earned his B.S. degrees in both Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2023. He is currently working on the MIRHIQL chronic pain study, which compares provider-based chronic pain management visits with or without an added mindfulness-based intervention (MORE). His research interests focus on addiction recovery, mindfulness practices, and the therapeutic use of psychedelics. In his free time, Kobe enjoys spending time hiking, playing basketball, and reading.
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Elizabeth Bridge, B.A.
Elizabeth is a research laboratory assistant and earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Cognitive Science from the University of Utah in 2023. She is currently part of a research team studying smoking cessation and chronic pain management, where she focuses on how Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) therapy can help individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) reduce nicotine cravings and find relief from chronic pain. Additionally, she is continuing her education at the University of Utah, pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC).
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Sofia Fischel, B.S.
Sofia is a research laboratory assistant and earned her Bachelor's in Computational Cognitive Science from the University of California, Davis in 2025. She is interested in patient-care oriented research dedicated to helping others live more comfortably. Presently, she is involved in investigating the effects of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) in reducing treatment-related chronic pain in breast cancer survivors. With specific interests in women's health and neuroimaging methodologies, Sofia hopes to one day work in the therapeutic and reparative neurotechnology sector after pursing a graduate degree in a related area.
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Lori Kroh, B.S., CMC, CRMT, CYT200
Lori is a research laboratory assistant, and earned her B.S. degree in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience from UC San Diego. She is currently heading a pilot mechanistic study investigating interpersonal brain function in opioid use, providing meditation interventions while measuring dyadic physiological data. She relocated from WA state, and, with a 17 year background in massage therapy and wellness instruction, Lori has cultivated a strong ambition to study mindbody interventions such as mindfulness, somatic therapies, and movement. Her interests include neuroimaging and electrophysiology, neuroplasticity, habit, emotion, chronic pain, and psychopharmacology, particularly that of psychedelics. When she isn't in the lab, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her partner and dog, doing yoga, tai chi & qi gong, and rollerskating.
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Alyssa Nott
Alyssa is a laboratory volunteer, and is earning her Bachelor’s Degrees in Molecular & Cell Biology and Business Psychology from UC San Diego. She is interested in neuroscience, particularly how biotechnology advances new medicines and therapies. Outside of academics, Alyssa enjoys hiking, cooking, and listening to live music.
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Dani Kaur
Dani Kaur is a laboratory volunteer and undergraduate student at UC San Diego, majoring in neurobiology. She is passionate about the mind-body connection, with an interest in how neuroplasticity shapes the brain in response to one's physical and mental well-being. Dani is the author of "Fulfill Your Life," a personal development book to help people develop a growth mindset and time-management skills. She is also a certified Pilates instructor and is committed to helping others live healthier and happier lives.
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Saloni Patel
Saloni is a laboratory volunteer and a junior undergraduate studying Cognitive Science and Biology at UC San Diego. She is interested in exploring the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mindfulness, empathy, and compassion, particularly how these insights might inform interventions to enhance wellbeing and health. Outside the lab, she enjoys painting, hiking, and spending time at the beach.