UC Davis Launches Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics

University of California, Davis announced This week, “Advancing basic knowledge of the mechanisms of psychedelics and translating them into safe and effective treatments for diseases such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. We are launching a new laboratory aimed at other people.

Called “The Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics,” it “brings together scientists from different disciplines and partners with the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that important discoveries lead to new drugs for patients,” the university said in a statement. said the institute was “specially designed to foster collaboration across the campus.”

The institute will be “partially funded by donations of approximately $5 million from the Deans of the Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine, the Vice Chancellor for Research, and the President’s Office,” the school said, adding that the funding will be in the same areas of study. Be distinguished from other centers involved.

“It’s also notable that the UC Davis Institute is supported by a large amount of the university’s funding, while other psychedelic science centers have formed around the country with donations from philanthropists,” the university said. says.

“Another unique feature of the UC Davis Institute is its focus on chemistry and the development of new neurotherapeutics,” the university said.

David E. Olson, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the University of California, Davis, was appointed as the founder of the new laboratory.

“There are many therapeutic possibilities for psychedelics, but we can do better,” Olson said. The group published a paper three years ago. according to the university.

In Olson’s view, the university believes that “novel molecules tailored to specific disease indications will overcome many of the challenges traditional psychedelics currently face in terms of safety, scalability, and intellectual property.” By solving the problem, we could offer substantial benefits and open the door to industry partnerships.”

“Psychedelics have the unique ability to bring about long-lasting changes in the brain that are relevant to treatment of various conditions,” said Olson. “If we can take advantage of these beneficial properties while designing molecules that are safer and more scalable, we can help a lot of people.”

John A. Gray, Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology, will serve as Associate Director. Olson and Gray authored a study in 2018 that “demonstrates that psychedelics promote neural plasticity, the growth of new neurons and the formation of neural connections.”

“Neural atrophy is an important factor underlying many diseases, and the ability of hallucinogens to promote neuronal growth and new connections in the brain may have broad therapeutic implications.

The university said the institute “will draw on the extraordinary breadth of expertise of the UC Davis neuroscience community, which includes approximately 300 faculty members in centers, laboratories, and departments across the Davis and Sacramento campuses.” “is working on all aspects of psychedelic science, from molecules and cells to human clinical trials.”

“Combining the pioneering basic research team at the University of California, Davis, world-class neuroscientists, and the considerable expertise of a nationally recognized medical center is a breakthrough in helping patients locally and around the world. It’s a formula of success that we believe will lead to significant discoveries,” said Susan Mullin, dean of the School of Medicine, in a statement this week.