UCLA Professor Exposed After Emailing Epstein Advice on How to Get Babies to 'Suck Harder on Pacifiers'

A University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) professor has come under intense public scrutiny following the release of United States Department of Justice (DOJ) documents showing he emailed convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2017 about research involving newborn infants and auditory stimulus.

The professor, Mark Jude Tramo, MD PhD, an associate adjunct professor of neurology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and adjunct faculty in the Herb Alpert School of Music, drew particular attention over a line in the correspondence that described findings on infant pacifier behaviour and maternal voice playback. Documents recently made public by the DOJ show Tramo communicated with Epstein over multiple years on subjects ranging from neuroscience research to funding proposals.

Academic Correspondence With Epstein Spans Years

Tramo's work focuses on the intersection of neuroscience and music cognition, and he directs the Institute for Music & Brain Science. His research record includes studies on how auditory stimuli and musical interventions can affect physiological and behavioural responses. Peer-reviewed publications by Tramo and colleagues have examined the effects of music on pain and stress indices in premature infants, though the pacifier email itself is not linked to a published study.

The newly released DOJ files reveal a trove of email exchanges between Tramo and Epstein dating from at least 2010 through 2019. In some of these emails, Tramo discussed his research interests, potential funding opportunities, and educational matters.

According to documents and reporting by the Daily Bruin, Tramo forwarded messages from students seeking research advice to Epstein in 2010. Epstein's response referenced the physical appearance of the students, to which Tramo replied with a light-hearted remark on their prospects. Tramo later characterised that exchange as inappropriate and explained it as part of forwarding student inquiries to potential benefactors, saying he should not have responded at all.

Epstein's involvement with academic institutions is well-documented. He and his foundation, Gratitude America Ltd., provided financial support to various research initiatives, including a reported donation of £73,000 ($100,000) to the Institute for Music & Brain Science in 2017.

Tramo told media outlets he viewed Epstein primarily as a potential funding source when he first made contact, noting that he knew of Epstein's conviction but not the full extent of his criminal history when they corresponded. He has stated he never visited Epstein's private properties or participated in any activity connected to the later criminal allegations.

Backlash and Public Debate

The disclosure of Tramo's email exchanges with Epstein has sparked significant backlash on social media and among the UCLA community. Students and activists have circulated petitions calling for his removal from faculty positions, arguing that any association with Epstein is untenable regardless of context.

Crowds at a small protest outside the building where Tramo teaches carried signs demanding accountability, with critics citing the email about infant research as emblematic of poor judgement. Some commentators equate the brief description of neonatal pacifier responses with broader concerns over how information might be misinterpreted in light of Epstein's history.

In response to protests and attention, Tramo's profile page was removed from UCLA's media guide on the university website. University officials have not publicly commented on any disciplinary actions.

Meanwhile, critics have highlighted the ethical implications of maintaining any professional communication with a known criminal, especially one convicted of sexual offences involving minors. They contend that even ostensibly innocuous academic exchanges can create reputational harm for institutions and discomfort for students.

Context and Clarification of Scientific Inquiry

Experts in neonatal research stress that studies on infant sucking reflexes and responses to voice playback are grounded in developmental biology and psychology, not anything nefarious. In clinical settings, researchers have explored whether personalised auditory stimuli, such as recordings of a mother's voice, can soothe infants and support feeding behaviour. Such work is part of broader efforts to improve neonatal care.

Tramo's broader academic portfolio includes decades of work on how the brain processes music and sound, with professional training in neurology and cognitive neuroscience at leading institutions and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Nevertheless, the public response to the email exchange underscores how sensitive any association with Epstein remains, particularly within academic communities striving to uphold ethical standards. At issue now is whether the context of legitimate research can be sufficiently distinguished from the reputational damage of such associations — and how institutions like UCLA will address these concerns in practice.

Originally published on IBTimes UK