Researchers at the Center for Psychedelic Medicine, in NYU Langone’s Department of Psychiatry, conduct and support high-quality, health-focused research to realize the clinical potential of psychedelic compounds and related drugs.

Over the past two decades, clinical research on psychedelics, most notably psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), has steadily progressed from pilot studies confirming safety and feasibility, through early phase trials providing preliminary evidence of clinical efficacy. Results to date have stimulated tremendous interest in the possible use of these drugs as medications, but fundamental questions remain regarding their safety and efficacy, how they work, and whether their psychoactive effects are integral to their mechanisms of action.

Research Mission

Our scientists conduct and promote research across the translational spectrum in order to realize the clinical potential of these drugs, maximize their safety, unlock their mechanisms of action, and determine which patients are most likely to benefit from psychedelic treatments. Studies range from preclinical research to phase 3 clinical trials and include the assessment of psychedelics in the treatment of psychiatric disorders (e.g., substance use disorder, alcohol use disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and distress associated with life-threatening illness such as cancer), as well as emerging medical indications. Learn more about our current research studies.

Educational Mission

The Center for Psychedelic Medicine also advances the field of psychedelic medicine by providing training opportunities for the next generation of scientists and clinicians in the field. The Psychedelic Medicine Research Training Program provides education, mentorship, training opportunities, and pilot funding to support promising new investigators.

Our center is a leader in the development and implementation of psychotherapeutic approaches that can be effectively and efficiently integrated with the administration of psychedelic medications and provides training for therapists who administer these treatments in the context of clinical trials. Center investigators also provide education to the public through the dissemination of research findings and reliable information about the potential benefits and harms of these medications.

Learn more about the Center for Psychedelic Medicine.