The people & the institute behind PNP

The Psychedelic Research Center at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; NUDZ) is primarily devoted to research of the neurobiology of the effects of, and the therapeutic use of, psychedelics and other psychoactive substances. The research activities bring together the preclinical and clinical teams in one unit, covering psychedelics from the molecular level, analytical methods, experiments with tissue cultures, behavioral experiments on animals, and neuroimaging approaches through to clinical evaluations with a clear therapeutic focus. In preclinical experiments, great emphasis is placed on the translational validity of the data.

In addition to psychedelics, we also study new psychoactive substances (NPS) and cannabinoids. Current preclinical topics include neuroplasticity as a basis for the antidepressant effects of psychedelics, electrophysiological correlates of their effects, and the acute effects and toxicity of NPS. In clinical research, we are completing a trial studying the effects and neurobiology of psilocybin in healthy volunteers, and conducting a trial comparing the antidepressant effect of psilocybin with ketamine in patients with treatment-resistant depression.