CASE FILEREF: ANTONIO-DAMASIO
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Antonio Damasio

CATEGORY:academicALIASES:Antonio Rosa DamasioNATIONALITY:Portuguese-AmericanBLACK BOOK:NoDOCUMENTS:0MENTIONS:0
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Case Notes

USC neuroscientist who requested Epstein research funding in 2013

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Antonio Damasio, a neuroscientist and director of USC's Brain and Creativity Institute, contacted Jeffrey Epstein in 2013 seeking private funding for his research on the cellular science of emotions and robotics neuroscience. The two met at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse to discuss the proposal. Damasio stated he was unaware of Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to soliciting prostitution and criminal history at the time of contact, and that Epstein ultimately declined to provide funding. Damasio said he first learned of Epstein's crimes around 2019 when Epstein died in federal detention. Damasio has characterized the contact as routine private outreach to a wealthy philanthropist, common practice in academia. He appeared in a 2019 PBS series funded by Epstein but said he could not recall the specific program. No evidence indicates Damasio received funding, maintained an ongoing relationship with Epstein, or engaged in criminal activity.

Determination Timeline

CONTEXT ONLYrecorded Feb 27, 2026

Document References (0)

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Media Coverage (5)

'He was surrounded by smart people': academics in Epstein files

TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION

John Brockman, an agent and founder of the Edge Foundation, which explores scientific and intellectual ideas, appears to have introduced Epstein to many people …

The Paranoid Style of Jeffrey Epstein Has Come for Us All

THE NEW REPUBLIC

Antonio Damasio, a neuroscientist at the University of Southern California who pitched research projects to Epstein, told The New York Times that he was origina…

Even More Higher Ed Names in the Epstein Files

INSIDE HIGHER ED·Feb 5, 2026

The latest batch of released Epstein files reveals additional names from the higher education community who had contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Corina Tarnita, a …

USC professor asked Jeffrey Epstein for money years after guilty plea

MORNING TROJAN·Feb 2, 2026

Antonio Damasio had a problem. It was 2013, and the star USC neuroscientist was closing in on new insights into the origins of human emotions. He needed money f…

USC professor asked Jeffrey Epstein to privately fund research in 2013

USC ANNENBERG MEDIA·Feb 2, 2026

Emails from Epstein's inbox show the Brain and Creativity Institute director met with the financier years after his 2008 conviction.

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