UVA Division of Perceptual Studies(UVA DOPS)
The UVA Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) is an academic research unit within the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, United States. Founded in 1967 by Ian Stevenson, then chair of the Psychiatry Department, it originated as the Division of Parapsychology and later became the Division of Personality Studies before adopting its current name. As the oldest and most productive university-based group worldwide, DOPS investigates phenomena challenging mainstream views on mind-brain relationships, including reincarnation cases (especially children reporting past-life memories), near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, apparitions, mediumship, telepathy, and psi effects in meditation. Key achievements include Stevenson's extensive global investigations of over 2,500 reincarnation cases, with about 70% 'solved' by verifying historical matches, often involving birthmarks corresponding to past wounds; ongoing work by current director Jim Tucker on U.S. child cases; and recent studies showing out-of-body experiences enhance empathy. Funded entirely by private donations due to limited mainstream support, DOPS receives over 100 family inquiries yearly and maintains active research with staff like Kim Penberthy, Marieta Pehlivanova, Marina Weiler, and Philip Cozzolino. Tucker recently retired as director, but the division remains operational and fundraising for expanded studies.