Dr. Jeff Chen

Dr. Jeff Chen MD/MBA is the Founder and Executive Director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, as well as the co-founder and CEO of Radicle Science, an AI-driven healthtech B-corp recognized among the top ten US "Tech Innovators" of 2022 by KPMG. He is a leading expert on the interplay between the policy, business, and science of cannabis, hemp, CBD, and alternative medicine.

At the age of 29, Dr. Chen became one of the youngest leaders of a major university research effort in America when he took the position of Founder and Executive Director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, one of the world’s first university programs dedicated to cannabis. At UCLA, Dr. Chen oversees his program’s interdisciplinary 40+ faculty – drawn from 18 departments across 8 schools at UCLA – as they conduct cannabis-related research, education, and advocacy projects spanning “seed to society.” His work extends internationally, including advising the Mexico Senate and the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Beyond academia, Dr. Chen has a profound impact on public perception and policy through media engagements and public speaking. He has been featured in CNN, Forbes, and TIME, and has appeared on TV shows such as "The Doctors" and CBS Sunday. As a speaker, he has presented for organizations like the National Academies of Science and the American Bar Association, and at events including SXSW and the Burning Man Speaker Series. Dr. Chen’s ability to demystify complex issues in health and wellness, coupled with his engaging speaking style, has made him a sought-after figure in the field of cannabis and beyond.