An overview of Heffter funded research projects
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Qualified researchers who wish to develop a clinical protocol employing a psychedelic are encouraged to contact our Medical Director, George Greer, M.D. at george@newmexico.com for further information. Researchers with approved protocols supported by the institute may be able to assist you in developing your own protocol and in obtaining the various approvals necessary to carry out clinical studies. They generally are willing to share relevant information from their protocols to the extent that it does not jeopardize their own research program.
I. Clinical Research
Psilocybin in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
This study is the first clinical use of a psychedelic in the United States in more than 30 years. All the patients were beyond the reach of standard treatments, and all responded well. One patient had symptom remission for weeks following one psilocybin session. The researchers have applied to the federal government's National Institutes of Health for funding for the next phase, an expanded study. This progress from a Heffter funded pilot study to larger studies with federal funding is what we hope to see in each of our American projects. This study shows a potential breakthrough treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, a recalcitrant disease that is the fourth most common outpatient psychiatric problem. The study was conducted by Dr. Francisco Moreno, M.D. at the University of Arizona Medical Center, and published in 2006.
Harbor-UCLA Psilocybin and Cancer Study
The study examines the use of psilocybin in a controlled setting to reduce the psychospiritual anxiety, depression, and physical pain of terminal cancer patients. As a society we spend a great deal of attention treating cancer, but very little treating the human being who is dying of cancer. This study treats the whole human being. It aims to help the patient move towards a 'good' death, and help the patient's family deal well with the dying process of their loved one. If we can learn to work more skillfully with dying, we will also learn to take better care of life. Only one subject remains to be treated in the study. Dr. Charles Grob, M.D., a Heffter founder, is directing the project. This is the first work of this kind with the dying since the early 1970's. The study is being conducted by Dr. Charles Grob, M.D. at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Click here to see an interview with one of the patients, Pam Sakuda.
Study website: ClinicalTrials.gov
The Johns Hopkins University Psilocybin and Cancer Study
44 cancer patients will receive psilocybin treatment similar to that in Dr. Grob's study, except that it includes early-stage cancer patients and a different research design. This study specifically focuses on spiritual experience facilitated by psilocybin as a healing factor in patients who are psychologically distressed by their cancer diagnosis. Patients with and without disease progression are eligible. Outcome measures include measures of mystical/spiritual experience, quality of life, anxiety, depressed mood, attitude about death, use of pain medication, and blood markers of stress and immune function. Subject recruiting is ongoing, and potential subjects can be referred to the study coordinator, Mary Cosimano at (410) 550-5990, or by email to: Roland Griffiths.
Study website: ClinicalTrials.gov
II. Basic Science Research
Heffter Zürich Center Psilocybin-Serotonin Receptor Research
A recent focus of the Heffter Zürich Research Center has been an examination of serotonin 5-HT2A neuroreceptor dynamics in the human brain following psilocybin, and its potential relevance for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSDs), including OCD and eating disorders. The study is being carried out by Dr. Felix Hasler, Ph.D. and Boris B. Quednow, under the direction of Heffter board member Franz X. Vollenweider.
Initial studies involved synthesizing the positron-emitting tracer molecule [18F]-altanserin, which binds to brain serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Using positron-emission tomography (PET), the location and density of these receptors can then be visualized in the living human brain. The picture on the left is a side view showing the 5-HT2A brain receptors where psilocybin acts. The receptor density is correlated with color, where red/yellow are the highest receptor concentrations.
Administration of psilocybin can completely prevent the binding of the radioactive tracer to this area. Preliminary analysis reveals a strong and consistent decrease (30%) of [18F]-altanserin binding in the psilocybin condition as compared to placebo.
When the actual clinical study of psilocybin in OCSD patients begins, our Zürich group will have the baseline data to show the normal levels of 5-HT2A receptors in the brain and how psilocybin affects them. Those data will be essential to compare with OCSD patients to gain an understanding of how psilocybin could be an effective treatment. These are the first steps toward demonstrating a mechanism for how psilocybin might help patients with OCD, following up on the pilot study we supported at the University of Arizona, above. We now plan to move toward the biologically-related but difficult to treat problem of eating disorders.
In the other major Zürich study, comparing subjects in a meditation state with subjects under the influence of psilocybin, 3-D EEGs showed striking similarities between the two states of consciousness. This result may further explain how psilocybin “awakens” the brain patterns that occur during meditative and spiritual states of consciousness.
The Johns Hopkins University Psilocybin and Spirituality Study
This study is a follow-up to their widely publicized project published last year by Dr. Roland Griffiths and colleagues: Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. This follow-up phase follows the same model as the first study, but uses different doses of psilocybin. It was funded by an anonymous donor to the Heffter Research Institute. We are proud to have been a critical part of this groundbreaking research to demonstrate the benefits of psychedelics to humanity.