National Institutes of Health psilocybin research speaker series: State of the science, regulatory and policy landscape, research gaps, and opportunities.

In 2021, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) held its first-ever speaker series focused on a psychedelic substance, titled the 'NIH Psilocybin Research Speaker Series,' from April 22 to June 10. The series aimed to provide evidence-based information to the public and scientific community, assess the current state of psilocybin science, review regulatory and policy landscapes, and identify knowledge gaps to define future research needs. Highlights from lectures and discussions by 26 national and international experts formed the basis for a Special Issue of Neuropharmacology.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened a seminal first ever psychedelic drug substance-focused speaker series, from April 22 to June 10, 2021, titled the "NIH Psilocybin Research Speaker Series." This speaker series provided evidence-based scientific information to the public and the scientific community. Its aims were to assess the current state of the science, the regulatory and policy landscape, as well as to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding, ultimately serving to define future research needs. The highlights of the lectures and discussion from 26 national and international distinguished experts served as the basis for this Special Issue of Neuropharmacology. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".