These experts from the UW–Madison faculty and staff have agreed to comment on breaking news, ongoing developments and trends in their areas of expertise. If you need help arranging interviews, email the Office of Strategic Communication.
Experts on the news
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Paul Hutson on: Approval of Psilocybin Based Mental Health Treatments
President Trump’s recent executive order is aimed at accelerating access to psychedelic therapies for mental health treatment. Among the potential treatments, the FDA has since announced it would seek to fast-track Usona Institute’s proposal for psilocybin-assisted treatment of major depression.
Usona’s drug application depends in part on a foundational study performed at UW–Madison. Paul Hutson is a professor at the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy who studies potential psychedelic-assisted treatments and helped lead that study.
He can speak to:
- How the accelerated review of psilocybin products may cause demand for these treatments to build sooner than expected, potentially straining the capacity of mental health providers.
- Who might benefit from these expensive treatments while health insurers weigh whether to cover them.
- What other medical uses researchers are studying psilocybin for, including UW–Madison studies looking at psilocybin to treat addiction.
Recent press:
WKOW Madison – April 2026
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – May 2025
Wisconsin Examiner – April 2025
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John Hall on: Escalation of conflict in Iran
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian leadership and military targets in February and March 2026 triggered a wider conflict and Iranian retaliation across the Middle East. The fighting has heightened fears of regional escalation and raised questions about the strategic consequences of U.S. military involvement in the conflict.
John W. Hall, Ambrose Hesseltine Professor of U.S. Military History at the University of Wisconsin Madison, studies American military policy and the history of modern warfare, including how the United States has used military force in international crises and regional conflicts.
He can speak to:
- How the United States has historically entered and managed conflicts in the Middle East when regional tensions escalate.
- What past conflicts show about how wars expand after initial attacks on leadership or military targets.
- What historical experience suggests about the strategic risks and outcomes when the United States becomes involved in conflicts in the Middle East.
Recent Press:
WTAQ Green Bay- March 2026
