Covering Psychedelics: Sources

This is part of FJN’s Topic Briefs for Journalists series.
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The following researchers, journals, institutes and organizations are internationally recognized for controlled psychedelic research, clinical trials, or mechanistic neuroscience.

Key researchers and contributors

Below are researchers whose work features prominently in modern psychedelic science:

Roland Griffiths, Ph.D. – Groundbreaking psilocybin clinical trials, long-term therapeutic effects.

Robin Carhart-Harris, Ph.D. – Neuroimaging of psychedelics, theoretical models of brain dynamics; Imperial College and UCSF affiliations.

David Nutt, Ph.D. – Neuropsychopharmacology, leadership in UK psychedelic research agenda. 

Rick Doblin, Ph.D. – Founder of MAPS; MDMA therapeutic research advocacy and coordination.

Rachel Yehuda, Ph.D. – PTSD and trauma research collaboration including MDMA-assisted therapy.

Frederick S. Barrett, Ph.D. – Director-level clinical research leadership at Johns Hopkins.

Rick Strassman, M.D. – Pioneering DMT research in humans.

Amanda Feilding – Founder of Beckley Foundation, broad support for neuroscientific research.

David Luke, Ph.D.  Professor of Exceptional Experience, University of Greenwich.

Matthew W Johnson  Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins Medicine

For more information on influential researchers, please check Wondermed.

International Scientific Journals

• Journal of Psychopharmacology
• Neuropsychopharmacology Nature  
• JAMA Psychiatry
• Nature Medicine  
• Scientific Reports  

United States

• Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research (Johns Hopkins University) – Largest psychedelic science research hub, with peer-reviewed clinical trials on psilocybin effects in psychiatric and consciousness research.
  
• Yale Program for Psychedelic Science (Yale School of Medicine) – Historical and contemporary program investigating neurobiological and therapeutic effects of psychedelics.
  
• Heffter Research Institute – Nonprofit that funds and promotes scientific research on classic psychedelics (especially psilocybin) to advance understanding of the mind and therapeutic potential.
  
• Alexander Shulgin Research Institute (ASRI) Focused on synthesizing and studying novel phenethylamine and tryptamine compounds, continuing the legacy of Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin’s work.
   
• Harvard Medical School – Research on Psychedelics: Various studies on the neurological and psychological effects of psychedelics.

Europe

• Champalimaud Foundation PsyPal Study Network – EU/International
  Supported by EU funding, this multicentre initiative conducts an EU-wide clinical trial examining psychedelic therapy for treatment-resistant mental and existential distress in palliative care patients. Focus: Psilocybin therapy in severe chronic illnesses. Partners include clinical research sites in Portugal, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Denmark.
  
• ECNP – European College of Neuropsychopharmacology – EU/International
  A thematic research network uniting clinicians, pharmacologists, psychologists, and neuroimagers from across Europe to collaborate on psychedelic science, share data, develop collaborative trials, and address translational research priorities.
  
• Imperial College London Centre for Psychedelic Research – UK
  Pioneers in brain imaging and clinical trials for depression, addiction, and neurobiological mechanisms.

• Beckley Foundation/ Imperial Psychedelic Research Programme – UK
  Think tank and research support organization collaborating with academic partners to advance evidence-based psychedelic science.  Conducting groundbreaking work on LSD, psilocybin (including microdosing), DMT, and MDMA using brain-imaging and clinical trials.
  
• Danish Centre for Psychedelic Research – Denmark
  The DCPR is a multidisciplinary research group that aims to better understand the brain mechanisms through which psychedelics evoke perceptual, behavioral and clinical effects.
  
• Psychological Psychedelic Intervention Group  – Denmark
  A research group studying psychedelic interventions including preparation, dosing, and integration in clinical settings. The group collaborates internationally (e.g., Imperial College London, Karolinska Institutet, University of Groningen).
  
• PSYRES – The Czech Psychedelic Research Foundation – Czech Republic
  An organization that funds and supports Czech scientific psychedelic research, including clinical and anthropological studies related to therapeutic applications and traditional uses of substances like ayahuasca and psilocybin.
  

National and international organizations

• Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) – International
  Nonprofit network coordinating e.g clinical MDMA PTSD trials and supporting global research design and regulatory compliance. Focus also on harm reduction, policy advocacy, and public education.
  
• Global Psychedelic Society (GPS) – International
  GPS connects and supports local psychedelic communities worldwide. Around the world, hundreds of Psychedelic Societies meet regularly to provide peer education and support around psychedelics.

• International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) – International
  A global network of over 192 NGOs that promote objective and open debate on drug policy at national, regional and international level.
  
• ICEERS (International Center for Ethnobotanical Education) – International
  Spain/Netherlands-based NGO dedicated to research, education, and advocacy around psychoactive plants and their cultural, scientific, and policy dimensions.
  
• Norrsken Mind – European
  European nonprofit supporting research funding, education, and implementation of psychedelic science; engages in collaborative research, policy engagement, and evidence assessment frameworks.
  
• Zendo Project – USA
  Independent nonprofit offering harm-reduction education and support; grew out of MAPS but now operates globally with a focus on community education and safe psychedelic experiences.
  
• Erowid Center – USA
  Nonprofit educational organization curating large public databases with information on psychoactive plants and chemicals; supports research by documenting substances and effects.
  
• OPEN Foundation – Netherlands
  As a leading nonprofit organization in the Netherlands and Europe, the OPEN Foundation envisions a world where safe, beneficial, and accessible applications of psychedelics are ethically and responsibly integrated into science, healthcare, and society.
   
• CEPDA, The Center for Psychedelic Education  – Denmark
  A think tank that builds bridges between research, practitioners, users and decision-makers to promote a responsible, knowledge-based and holistic approach to psychedelics in Denmark.
  
• Svenska Psykedeliska Sällskapet – Sweden
  Working for a changed attitude towards psychedelics in society, by educating and lecturing about psychedelics, risks and potential, and creating spaces for integration and human encounters.

• Psynapse  – Norway
  Norwegian nonprofit promoting access to psychedelics for medical and scientific purposes and advocating for evidence-based policy change.
  
• Psychedelia Foundation – Germany
  Non-profit platform for interdisciplinary research, education, and cultural dialogue about psychedelics; promotes responsible, evidence-based public discourse.
  
• Mind Foundation – Germany
  MIND is a nonprofit mental health organization dedicated to research and education. We advance the legal, safe, evidence-based, and accessible application of psychedelics in therapy and human development.
  

Compiled by Jesper Madsen for FJN

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