INFLUENCERS

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), the Heffter Research Institute, Johns Hopkins, NYU, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health, the University of Zurich and the Usona Institute are just some of the research centers, scientists, clinicians and advocacy and education organizations working collaboratively in a global effort to continue the pursuit of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and psychedelic research. As support for psychedelic research in psychiatry has steadily gained momentum in the US and globally, education and advocacy organizations such as MAPS, the Psychedelic Medicine Association (PMA), the Beckley Foundation, and the Heffter Research Institute have been working to encourage and promote the legalization of psychedelics for potential prescription medicine use through rigorous scientific research32. Numerous psychedelic research studies are currently in recruitment or active status for psilocybin, ketamine, MDMA, LSD, DMT, and cannabis.33

MAPS, a nonprofit, is leading psychedelic research and advocacy sponsoring multiple phase 2 and 3 trials, including studies for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy focused on PTSD and life-threatening illness-related distress and anxiety.34 MAPS has completed the first of two phase 3 clinical trials for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Also, an advocate for special populations, including cancer patients, patients suffering from substance abuse disorders and Alzheimer’s patients, MAPS strives for special populations to have access to the potential benefits of psychedelic medicine. PMA, which includes a society of physicians, therapists and healthcare professionals (HCP) provides practitioners education and informational tools in an effort to properly train therapists.35 The Heffter Research Institute supports publications on classic psychedelics.36 Usona Institute, currently recruiting for trials to study psilocybin’s effect on MDD, is working in association with MAPS and Johns Hopkins to explore the benefits of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.37