Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research

Our Vision: Advancing the scientific exploration of psychedelics to uncover their potential in addressing mental health disorders, fostering well-being, and enhancing our understanding of consciousness.

In contemporary times, researchers are embarking on a new era of studying a distinct class of drugs known as psychedelics. Despite initial investigations in the 1950s and ’60s, this line of inquiry was abruptly halted in the early 1970s due to negative media portrayal, resulting in misconceptions about risks and strict regulations.

Following a hiatus spanning several decades, our team at Johns Hopkins obtained regulatory approval in 2000 to resume psychedelic research in previously untapped healthy volunteers. Our groundbreaking 2006 study, which showcased the safety and enduring positive effects of a single dose of psilocybin, is widely acknowledged as the catalyst for the resurgence of psychedelic research worldwide.

Since then, we have published numerous pioneering studies in over 150 peer-reviewed articles across esteemed scientific journals, establishing Johns Hopkins as a leading institution for psychedelic research in the United States and globally. Our investigations explore therapeutic applications for various challenging conditions, including addiction, existential distress, major depressive disorder, anorexia nervosa, Post-Treatment Lyme Disease, depression associated with Alzheimer’s Disease, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Additionally, our research involving healthy volunteers has deepened our understanding of the long-lasting positive effects of psilocybin and provided invaluable insights into neurophysiological mechanisms, with implications for consciousness and therapeutic enhancement.

At the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, our mission is to address fundamental inquiries in psychedelic research, therapy, and clinical education, while broadening the scope of psychedelic science through collaboration with leading multidisciplinary scientists worldwide. We are dedicated to conducting rigorous clinical trials adhering to the highest ethical standards, elucidating the underlying mechanisms driving psychedelic effects and therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, we aim to provide evidence-based education to clinicians and the wider community to foster the development of innovative therapeutic approaches that benefit both individuals and society.

https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/

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