New Psychedelic Drugs Research Facility by Johns Hopkins University is a First-Ever

In a tweet, Johns Hopkins University announced that it is launching a Center for Psychedelic Research. The university researched private funding to the tune of $17 million.

Johns Hopkins Launches Center For Psychedelic Research https://t.co/0tooZy3NTv

— Hopkins Med News (@HopkinsMedNews) September 4, 2019

The press release on the announcement indicates that there will be six researchers and five postdoctoral scientists on the research team, and together they’ll study the potential therapeutic uses of psychedelic substances. They’ll also research whether such substances can treat opioid addiction, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, Lyme disease, anorexia, and Alzheimer’s. In addition, the researchers hope to develop precision medicine that is tailored toward the specific needs of individual patients.

Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., the center’s director and professor of behavioral biology  in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, stated:

“The center’s establishment reflects a new era of research in therapeutics and the mind through studying this unique and remarkable class of pharmacological compounds. In addition to studies on new therapeutics, we plan to investigate creativity and well-being in healthy volunteers that we hope will open up new ways to support human thriving.”

Paul B. Rothman, M.D., and dean of the medical faculty at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, also shared:

“Johns Hopkins is deeply committed to exploring innovative treatments for our patients. Our scientists have shown that psychedelics have real potential as medicine, and this new center will help us explore that potential.”

James Potash, M.D., M.P.H., the Henry Phipps Professor and Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, also stated in the release

“I am thrilled about this magnificent opportunity that has been provided by enlightened private funders. This center will allow our enormously talented faculty to focus extensively on psychedelic research, where their passions lie and where promising new horizons beckon.”