A European perspective on psychedelics research, from pharmacology to clinical effects
In this webinar series we will explore the wide scope of psychedelics research conducted at various centers in Europe. Throughout the sessions we will cover a wide range of topics: from pharmacology and preclinical investigations to the clinical trials conducted in psychiatry. The three sessions in this series build upon each other but can also be attended in isolation. In each session, cutting-edge research is presented by esteemed researchers from different universities in Europe.
This seminar series is hosted by the Centre for psychiatry research at Karolinska Institutet and the ECNP Psychedelic research Network, and moderated by Johan Lundberg, adjunct professor at Karolinska Institutet and principal investigator for several clinical trials using psychedelics in mood disorders.
Session 1: clinical pharmacology of psychedelics and insights from the limited medical use program in Switzerland
In this first session of the webinar series, Johan Lundberg and Matthias Liechti will introduce the field of psychedelics research and give you a basic understanding of what psychedelics are from a pharmacological point of view. From there, we will take a closer look at the limited use program in Switzerland.
Matthias E. Liechti is the head of the Clinical Pharmacology Division and a professor for clinical pharmacology and internal medicine at the University Hospital Basel. With his research group, Matthias Liechti investigates the pharmacology of psychoactive substances both in vitro and in humans. The group is best known for the work on the acute effects of MDMA (ecstasy) and psychedelics including LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline in humans. In experimental clinical studies, the team investigates the clinical pharmacology of psychedelics and MDMA. The team also conducted phase 2 studies with LSD in patients with anxiety disorder, major depression, cluster headache, and ADHD in collaboration with the respective disease specialists.
Friday February 7 at 13-14:30
Please register to attend session 1
Session 2: preclinical and clinical evidence on mechanisms of action, translational research from Sweden and Denmark
Building on the foundation provided in the first session, we will take a closer look at the preclinical and clinical research investigating the mechanism of action of psychedelics. Pablo Lopez and Gitte Moos Knudsen will show how animal models and neuroimaging can be used to advance our knowledge on how psychedelics interact with the brain to create beneficial effects.
Gitte Moos Knudsen is a neurologist and professor in neurobiology at Rigshospitalet university hospital in Copenhagen and at University of Copenhagen and is chair of the Neurobiology Research Unit. Her work evolves around brain molecular and functional imaging and how pharmacological interventions can modulate the brain.
Juan Pablo Lopez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. His research seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms, cellular circuits, and complex behaviors, associated with stress-related psychiatric disorders and their treatments, using animal models.
Friday February 21 at 13-14:30
Please register to attend session 2
Session 3: clinical applications in psychedelics; current evidence from meta-analysis and experiences from Sweden
In this last session we will shift our focus to the current state of clinical research with a focus on the clinical effects in psychiatry. Athina Metaxa and Hampus Yngwe will discuss the application of psychedelics in different psychiatric disorders and will take a closer look at on-going clinical research using psilocybin for depression at Karolinska Institutet.
Athina Metaxa has recently completed an MSc in Evidence-based Healthcare at the Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences at the University of Oxford, with a research focus on psychedelic interventions for depression. She previously received a BSc in Psychology from University College London, and is currently working as a Scientific Consultant for pharmaceutical development in the private sector, with a focus on Neuropsychiatry.
Hampus Yngwe is a clinical psychiatrist working predominantly with patients suffering from affective disorders, as well as psychiatric emergency care. Hampus has since 2020 been part of Johan Lundbergs Research Group at Karolinska Institutet. His PhD project focuses on Psilocybin in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and he was the study physician in PSIPET, the first Swedish RCT on Psilocybin for MDD.
Friday March 7 at 13-14:30
Please register to attend session3