Exploring the potential
of psychedelics for
the betterment of all.
Featured
Learn about the latest research, announcements, and initiatives at BCSP.
How Psychedelic Clinical Trials Might Be Susceptible to Expectation
Every month, the BCSP brings you one essential read to keep you up to date with the leading topics in psychedelic science. This month, postdoctoral researcher Sean Noah explains “Expectancy effects in psychedelics trials” by Dr. Balázs Szigeti and Dr. Boris D. Heifets, published in 2024 in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.
Clinical Trials Map
The BCSP clinical trials map aims to makes the process of finding and learning about psychedelic research easier for both professional clinicians and those interested in participating in a trial. Figuring out how to participate in psychedelic-assisted therapy as either a therapist or a patient can be complicated. BCSP’s clinical trials map, featuring data from ClinicalTrials.gov, provides a way to navigate past, ongoing and future trials.
Ferriss-UC Berkeley Journalism Fellowship Announces 2024 Cohort
The Ferriss-UC Berkeley Journalism Fellowship has announced the next cohort of fellows who will receive $10,000 in support of unique, nuanced, and independent reporting on the field of psychedelics. The fellows will surface diverse, original, and often untold stories of the psychedelics field across a range of subjects.
Psychedelics 101
New to psychedelics?
Have a look at one of our many primers.
What Are Psychedelics?
Our primer on classic and non-classic psychedelic substances, including psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, and more.
What Are the Risks? Ask Experts.
How should you choose a psychedelic therapist? What do “set and setting” mean? How should a trip sitter prepare for the experience? Experts answer these questions and more.
Microdosing—Does It Work?
Interest in psychedelics is growing fast, but legal use—either through a clinical trial or psychedelic therapy—can be complicated.
Psychedelics and Spirituality
People have used psychedelics to commune with the divine and create bonds among the living and the dead, the spiritual and the natural worlds for centuries and possibly millennia.
About BCSP
BCSP is an academic center focused on psychedelic research, training, and public education. Explore our areas of focus.
Psychedelic Research
We bring together researchers from across disciplines, including neuroscience, molecular biology, psychology, chemistry, and genetics, and experts in public policy, law, health economics, and religion.
Psychedelic Facilitation Certificate Program
BCSP is training the next generation of psychedelic guides in a new program focused on interdisciplinary training for religious, spiritual-care, and health-care professionals.
Journalism and Public Education
BCSP’s public education program produces evidence-based, objective journalism, conversations, and courses about psychedelics.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Reciprocity
In our work, BCSP prioritizes the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We also strive to honor the Indigenous principle of reciprocity.
News
Keep current on the latest news about our public education, training and research programs, plus the latest news from the field of psychedelics.
World-Renowned Neuroscientist Doctor Gül Dölen to Join UC Berkeley Faculty
Dr. Gül Dölen, who is leading the effort to understand the molecular mechanisms through which the brain engages with psychedelic substances, is joining the UC Berkeley faculty on January 1, 2024, thanks to a generous $6 million gift from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.
MDMA-Assisted Therapy and PTSD
New research led by Professor Jenny Mitchell, a BCSP-affiliated researcher, has shown that MDMA-assisted therapy can lead to a significant and dramatic reduction in symptoms for people who have PTSD.
Results of the Berkeley Psychedelics Survey
The inaugural survey found that 61 percent of American voters support legalizing regulated therapeutic access to psychedelics.
Professor Trujillo’s Vision for the Future of Psychedelic Education Produces First-Ever Graduates
Comprehensive psychedelics education is needed for care professionals and recipients alike.
Subscribe to news from BCSP
Learn more about our public education, training and research programs, plus events and other opportunities to engage with the Center.
Subscribe to The Microdose
The Microdose delivers twice-weekly newsletters, featuring Q&As with newsmakers and the latest developments in the field of psychedelics, covering everything from scientific research and policy to business and culture.
Tools and Resources
Tools and resources to help you navigate the psychedelic renaissance.
Patent Tracker
BCSP has created a patent tracker that uses publicly available data gathered by Psychedelic Alpha, an independent community working in the psychedelic space.
Resources Database
We’ve combed through scientific papers, books, websites, popular articles and more to amass some of the top resources about therapy, neuroscience, risk reduction, microdosing, spirituality, and individual substances like psilocybin and MDMA.
Clinical Trials Map
Figuring out how to participate in psychedelic-assisted therapy as either a therapist or a patient can be complicated. BCSP’s clinical trials map, featuring data from ClinicalTrials.gov, provides a way to navigate past, ongoing and future trials.
UC Berkeley Psychedelics Survey
The inaugural survey found that more than six in ten (61%) American registered voters support legalizing regulated therapeutic access to psychedelics, including 35% who report “strong” support.