You could be eligible to participate in a psychedelic research trial. Studies of psychedelics are at various stages, enrolling both healthy volunteers and individuals with specific mental health conditions. We’ve compiled a list here of all the current or planned clinical trials on MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, ibogaine, and more. Regulatory approvals over the last few decades gave way to several MDMA and psilocybin pilot studies, while research around the world is exponentially growing. New investigations for the therapeutic use of psychedelics, as well as inquiries into how the brain works and what constitutes consciousness are appearing all the time.
The forerunners in this field pave the way for others by contributing evidence-based findings to the body of knowledge. Several organizations, academic institutions, and corporations are leading the psychedelic research field forward. The Heffter Research Institute and the Beckley Foundation are pioneering non-profit organizations funding and supporting many dimensions of psychedelic research. The Usona Institute conducts pre-clinical and clinical research to further the understanding of the therapeutic effects of psilocybin and other consciousness-expanding medicines. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, a fully-owned subsidiary of MAPS, is sponsoring trials for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for various anxiety-related conditions. COMPASS Pathways is a mental health care company conducting psilocybin clinical trials in Europe and North America for treatment-resistant depression. The Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research focuses on the mechanisms of action and clinical use of psychedelics, with a particular focus on researching treatments for depression. The Johns Hopkins University Center for Psychedelics & Consciousness Research researches how psychedelics affect behavior, mood, cognition, brain function, and biological markers of health. There are many more participating universities and organizations around the world, some of whom are listed below.
Following is a list of current or planned clinical trials with psychedelics (as of March 2020) in healthy individuals and in people with a specific medical condition. We searched clinical trial registries for USA, Europe, and Brazil: clinicaltrials.gov; clinicaltrialsregister.eu; ensaiosclinicos.gov.br. While we’ve attempted to make this list comprehensive, new trials are emerging often and our online search may not have revealed all. Contact study sites through the contact information provided in the clinical trial records below.
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MDMA
A Multi-Site Phase 3 Study of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD (MAPP1 and MAPP2)
Sponsor: MAPS
Population: PTSD
Location: USA, Canada, and Israel
Enrollment: Enrolling now
More Info: MAPP1 and MAPP2 (to enroll visit https://mdmaptsd.org).
Learn more about safety and effectiveness from clinical research in the MDMA Investigator Brochure (2017)
Evaluation of MDMA on Startle Response
Sponsor: MAPS
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trial record
MDMA in Subjects With Moderate Hepatic Impairment and Subjects With Normal Hepatic Function
Sponsor: MAPS
Population: Healthy Volunteers/Hepatic Impaired Volunteers
Location: University of California, San Francisco, CA
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trial record
Effects of Drugs on Responses to Brain and Emotional Processes (MAT)
Sponsor: University of Chicago
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Chicago, IL
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effect of Stimulant Drugs on Social Perception (ESP)
Sponsor: University of Chicago
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Chicago, IL
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Mood Effects of Serotonin Agonists
Sponsor: University of Chicago
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Chicago, IL
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
The Effects of MDMA on Prefrontal and Amygdala Activation in PTSD
Sponsor: Yale University
Population: PTSD
Location: New Haven, CT
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effect of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on Fear Extinction
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Open-Label Proof of Concept Feasibility Study to Explore the Safety, Tolerability and Potential Role of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Detoxified Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder
Sponsor: Imperial College London
Population: Alcohol Use Disorders
Location: UK
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Open Label Multi-Site Study of Safety and Effects of MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of PTSD With Optional fMRI Sub-Study
Sponsor: MAPS Europe B.V.
Population: PTSD
Location: Czechia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Open-Label Multi-Site Study of Safety and Effects of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of PTSD with Optional fMRI Sub-Study
Sponsor: MAPS Europe B.V.
Population: PTSD
Location: Netherlands, Czechia, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trial record
MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy in Veterans With Combat-Related, Refractory PTSD (VALLMDMA_001)
Sponsor: VA Loma Linda Health Care System and MAPS
Population: Combat-Related PTSD
Location: Loma Linda, California
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Stanford Reward Circuits of the Brain Study – MDMA (RBRAIN-MDMA)
Sponsor: Stanford University
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effects of MDMA Co-administration on the Response to LSD in Healthy Subjects (LSD-MDMA)
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psychological Effects of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) When Administered to Healthy Volunteers (MT-2)
Sponsor: MAPS
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: United States
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
A Multi-site Study of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders (MED1)
Sponsor: MAPS
Population: Diagnosed Eating Disorder
Location: United States
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Bristol Imperial MDMA in Alcoholism Study (BIMA)
Sponsor: Imperial College London
Population: Alcohol Use Disorder
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Enrollment: Active, Not Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Sponsor: Planting Consciousness Institute in collaboration with MAPS
Population: PTSD
Location: Brazil
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Role of Dopamine, Serotonin, and 5-HT2A Receptors in Emotion Processing
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Open-Label Multi-Site Study of Safety and Effects of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of PTSD
Sponsor: MAPS
Population: PTSD
Location: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, Wisconsin
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trial record
Study of Safety and Effects of MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of PTSD
Sponsor: MAPS
Population: PTSD
Location: British Columbia and Quebec, Canada
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trial record
Psilocybin
A Study of Psilocybin for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Sponsor: Usona Institute, Signant Health, The Emmes Company, LLC
Population: Major Depressive Disorder
Location: San Francisco, CA; New Haven, CT; Lauderhill, FL; Chicago, IL (Not Yet Recruiting); Baltimore, MD; New York, NY; Madison, WI (Not Yet Recruiting)
Enrollment: Enrolling Now (at certain locations)
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effects of Psilocybin in Anorexia Nervosa
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Population: Anorexia Nervosa
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin for Depression in People With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Early Alzheimer’s Disease
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Population: Neurocognitive Disorder or Clinical Dementia, and Depression
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Prophylactic Effects of Psilocybin on Chronic Cluster Headache (EPOCH)
Sponsor: Gitte Moos Knudsen
Population: Chronic Cluster Headache
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effects of Psilocybin in Post-Traumatic Headache
Sponsor: Yale University
Population: Post-Traumatic Headache
Location: West Haven, CT
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Adjunctive Effects of Psilocybin and Buprenorphine
Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Heffter Research Institute
Population: Opioid Use Disorder
Location: Madison, WI
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effects of SERT Inhibition on the Subjective Response to Psilocybin in Healthy Subjects
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Characterization of Altered Waking States of Consciousness in Healthy Humans
Sponsor: University of Zurich
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Zürich, Switzerland
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
The Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin in Participants With Treatment Resistant Depression (P-TRD)
Sponsor: COMPASS Pathways
Population: Treatment Resistant Depression
Location: United States, Canada, and Europe
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin-facilitated Smoking Cessation Treatment: A Pilot Study
Sponsor: John Hopkins School of Medicine in collaboration with Beckley Foundation and Heffter Research Institute
Population: Smokers
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
The Effects of Psilocybin-Facilitated Experience on the Psychology and Effectiveness of Religious Professionals
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Population: Religious Professionals
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
A Double-blind Trial of Psilocybin-assisted Treatment of Alcohol Dependence
Sponsor: NYU Langone Health in collaboration with Heffter Research Institute and University of New Mexico
Population: Alcohol Use Disorders
Location: New York, NY
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
The Effects of Psilocybin-Facilitated Experience on the Psychology and Effectiveness of Religious Professionals
Sponsor: NYU Langone Health
Population: Religious Professionals
Location: New York, NY
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin for Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Sponsor: University of Arizona
Population: OCD
Location: Tuscon, AZ
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Efficacy of Psilocybin in OCD: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Sponsor: Yale University
Population: OCD
Location: New Haven, CT
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin – Induced Neuroplasticity in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Sponsor: Yale University in collaboration with Heffter Research Institute
Population: Depression
Location: New Haven, CT
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Direct Comparison of Altered States of Consciousness Induced by LSD and Psilocybin in a Random-order Placebo-controlled Cross-over Study in Healthy Subjects
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin for the Treatment of Cluster Headache
Sponsor: Yale University in collaboration with Heffter Research Institute and Cluster Headache-Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia LLC
Population: Cluster Headache
Location: New Haven, CT
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin-facilitated Treatment for Cocaine Use
Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Population: Cocaine Addiction
Location: Birmingham, AL
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Clinical, Neurocognitive, and Emotional Effects of Psilocybin in Depressed Patients – Proof of Concept
Sponsor: University of Zurich
Population: Major Depression
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Clinical and Mechanistic Effects of Psilocybin in Alcohol Addicted Patients
Sponsor: University of Zurich, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds
Population: Alcohol Use Disorder
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Repeat Dosing of Psilocybin in Migraine Headache
Sponsor: Yale University, Wallace Research Foundation
Population: Migraine Headache
Location: New Haven, CT
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin and Depression
Sponsor: Helsinki University
Population: Depression
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Comparative Acute Effects of LSD, Psilocybin and Mescaline (LPM)
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Precision Functional Brain Mapping in Psilocybin (Psilocybin PFM)
Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Washington, United States
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
The Neurobiological Effect of 5-HT2AR Modulation
Sponsor: Gitte Moos Knudsen
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Enrollment: Unknown
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Beyond the Self and Back: Neuropharmacological Mechanisms Underlying the Dissolution of the Self
Sponsor: University of Zurich
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Enrollment: Active, Not Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin vs Escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder: Comparative Mechanisms in a Randomized Controlled Trial
Sponsor: Imperial College London
Population: Depression
Location: UK
Enrollment: Active, Not Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effects of Psilocybin on Major Depressive Disorder
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Population: Depression
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Active, Not Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Study
Sponsor: New York University (NYU) School of Medicine
Population: Cancer
Location: New York, NY
Enrollment: Active, Not Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin for the Treatment of Migraine Headache Yale University
Sponsor: Yale University
Population: Migraine
Location: New Haven, CT
Enrollment: Active, Not Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Psilocybin-assisted Group Therapy for Demoralization in Long-term AIDS Survivors a Study on Distress, Depression, Grief, HIV/AIDS
Sponsor: University of California San Francisco
Population: HIV/AIDS
Location: San Francisco, CA
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effects of Psilocybin on Behavior, Psychology and Brain Function in Long-term Meditators
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Population: Long-term Meditators
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Persisting Effects of Psilocybin
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University in collaboration with NIDA
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trials record
LSD
LSD Therapy for Persons Suffering From Major Depression (LAD)
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Major Depressive Disorder
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Mood Effects of Serotonin Agonists
Sponsor: University of Chicago
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Chicago, IL
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Mood Effects of Serotonin Agonists Extended (MESA-E)
Sponsor: University of Chicago
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Chicago, IL
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) as Treatment for Cluster Headache (LCH)
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Cluster Headache
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
LSD Treatment in Persons Suffering From Anxiety Symptoms in Severe Somatic Diseases or in Psychiatric Anxiety Disorders (LSD-assist)
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Anxiety
Location: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Direct Comparison of Altered States of Consciousness Induced by LSD and Psilocybin in a Random-order Placebo-controlled Cross-over Study in Healthy Subjects
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Enrolling Now
More Info: Clinical Trial record
Effects of MDMA Co-administration on the Response to LSD in Healthy Subjects (LSD-MDMA)
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Role of Dopamine, Serotonin and 5-HT2A Receptors in Emotion Processing
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trial record
Role of the Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor in LSD-induced Altered States of Consciousness (LDR-Study)
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trial record
IBOGAINE
Preliminary Efficacy and Safety of Ibogaine in the Treatment of Methadone Detoxification
Sponsor: International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service
Population: Opioid Use Disorders
Location: Spain
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Ibogaine in the Treatment of Alcoholism: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Escalating-dose, Phase 2 Trial
Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo
Population: Alcohol Use Disorders
Location: Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Enrollment: Not Yet Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
SALVINORIN A
Effects of Salvinorin A in Healthy Controls
Sponsor: Yale University
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: West Haven, Connecticut
Enrollment: Active, not Recruiting
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effects of Hallucinogens and Other Drugs on Mood and Performance
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Placebo Controlled Study of Sublingual Salvinorin A (6A)
Sponsor: California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute
Population: Experienced Subjects
Location: San Francisco, CA
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Human Psychopharmacology of Salvinorin A
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trials record
Effects of Salvinorin A on Brain Function
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Population: Healthy Volunteers
Location: Baltimore, MD
Enrollment: Completed
More Info: Clinical Trials record
KETAMINE
Too many to list! search clinicaltrials.gov
CANNABIS
Too many to list! search clinicaltrials.gov
Background: How Does a Clinical Trial Work
Clinical trials collect data to evaluate safety and efficacy of drugs under investigation in research. Drugs must pass through a sequence of phases or stages to become approved and available to patients. A new substance is first thoroughly tested in human cells and/or animals to gain initial information about safety and toxicity. If enough research exists in scientific journals, sometimes an already known drug like some psychedelics, can go through less animal testing or wait till later in the process to complete. After review, FDA can grant approval to test the drug in a small number of healthy individuals (phase 1). The next phase of testing involves giving a drug to people who have a disease or condition (phase 2) to evaluate safety and effectiveness to reduce symptoms. If the drug appears safe and signals the potential to be a useful treatment, then a much larger number of people are tested in phase 3 trials at multiple study sites. For the FDA to approve a new drug for a specific condition or disease, two phase 3 trials must show significant benefit that outweighs the risks or negative side effects of taking the drug. After the drug is approved and sold in the consumer market, research continues in phase 4 known as post marketing surveillance trials. Phase 4 trials collect data on long-term effectiveness and safety, costs associated with treatment compared to other drugs in the market, and safety and effectiveness of the new drug versus other available treatment options.
This post was originally published in July 2018 and has been updated to reflect the current list and status of clinical trials.
