Symposium
Session Room: M1
Session Room: M1
Sunday, June 28, 10:50 AM – 12:05 PM
SCNP-Selected Symposium 13:
Bridging Neurobiology and Psychiatry: Clinical and Translational Frontiers in Psychedelic Research
Bridging Neurobiology and Psychiatry: Clinical and Translational Frontiers in Psychedelic Research
Psychedelic research has recently re-emerged at the forefront of psychiatry and neuroscience, marking a paradigm shift in how mental disorders may be understood and treated. Accumulating evidence indicates that serotonergic psychedelics hold significant potential in addressing conditions resistant to conventional therapies, such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addictions. Recent controlled clinical trials have demonstrated rapid, robust, and enduring antidepressant effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy (Carhart-Harris RL et al., 2016; Davis et al., 2020; Goodwin et al., 2022), while translational studies increasingly link these outcomes to neuroplastic and neuroimmune mechanisms (Ly et al., 2018; Inserra et al., 2021; Vollenweider FX & Smallridge JW, 2022). This symposium will explore cutting-edge clinical and mechanistic findings from Europe’s leading psychedelic research centers, illustrating how neurobiology, neuropsychopharmacology, and psychiatry converge to inform next-generation treatments.
Dr. David Erritzøe (Imperial College London) will discuss the clinical application of psychedelic-assisted therapy in major depression and addictions. Drawing on data from Imperial’s clinical and neuroimaging studies, he will outline the therapeutic mechanisms underlying psilocybin’s efficacy, emphasizing the importance of set, setting, and psychological integration in achieving sustained remission.
Prof. Jan Ramaekers (Maastricht University) will present recent and ongoing phase 2 and 3 clinical trials with GH001, a novel inhaled 5-MeO-DMT formulation, in treatment-resistant depression. His talk will highlight dosing strategies, safety considerations, and regulatory pathways, as well as emerging neurocognitive data supporting ultra-rapid antidepressant effects following short-duration psychedelic experiences.
Dr. Drummond McCulloch (Copenhagen University Hospital) will discuss pioneering neuroimaging work investigating LSD’s effects on brain entropy and hierarchical connectivity using simultaneous PET/MRI. This translational research links psychedelic-induced changes in network dynamics to conscious experience, offering mechanistic insights into how psychedelics may recalibrate dysfunctional neural hierarchies characteristic of psychiatric disorders.
Together, these presentations will demonstrate how clinical and translational research on psychedelics can reshape the neurobiological understanding of psychiatric illness. The symposium aims to highlight the interface between fundamental neuroscience and applied clinical practice, showcasing how multidisciplinary psychedelic research can contribute to a new era of precision psychopharmacology. Ultimately, these converging approaches point toward the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into evidence-based mental health care, grounded in rigorous science and clinical responsibility.
Dr. David Erritzøe (Imperial College London) will discuss the clinical application of psychedelic-assisted therapy in major depression and addictions. Drawing on data from Imperial’s clinical and neuroimaging studies, he will outline the therapeutic mechanisms underlying psilocybin’s efficacy, emphasizing the importance of set, setting, and psychological integration in achieving sustained remission.
Prof. Jan Ramaekers (Maastricht University) will present recent and ongoing phase 2 and 3 clinical trials with GH001, a novel inhaled 5-MeO-DMT formulation, in treatment-resistant depression. His talk will highlight dosing strategies, safety considerations, and regulatory pathways, as well as emerging neurocognitive data supporting ultra-rapid antidepressant effects following short-duration psychedelic experiences.
Dr. Drummond McCulloch (Copenhagen University Hospital) will discuss pioneering neuroimaging work investigating LSD’s effects on brain entropy and hierarchical connectivity using simultaneous PET/MRI. This translational research links psychedelic-induced changes in network dynamics to conscious experience, offering mechanistic insights into how psychedelics may recalibrate dysfunctional neural hierarchies characteristic of psychiatric disorders.
Together, these presentations will demonstrate how clinical and translational research on psychedelics can reshape the neurobiological understanding of psychiatric illness. The symposium aims to highlight the interface between fundamental neuroscience and applied clinical practice, showcasing how multidisciplinary psychedelic research can contribute to a new era of precision psychopharmacology. Ultimately, these converging approaches point toward the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into evidence-based mental health care, grounded in rigorous science and clinical responsibility.
11:15 AM – 11:40 AM
25 min
25 min
11:40 AM – 12:05 PM
25 min
25 min