Appointment of leading Psychedelics Neuroscientist, Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, to Advisory Board

Dr. Carhart-Harris is the Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research, in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, where he has designed a number of functional brain imaging studies with psilocybin (magic mushrooms), LSD, MDMA (ecstasy) and DMT (ayahuasca), plus clinical trials of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. His scientific contributions to psychedelic-assisted therapy could play a significant role in the future of psychedelics for mental health care.

 

 

“We are honored to have Robin join our Advisory Board at Synthesis. The new appointment builds on our existing relationship, and he will become an integral part of our team and growth,” says Martijn Schirp, Co-Founder of Synthesis. “Robin is a distinguished academic in the field of psychedelic research, contributing seminal papers on the neuroscience and therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Robin’s extensive experience means that will play a vital role in developing the research and therapeutic initiatives we are undertaking.”

Synthesis has partnered with Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research since 2018. The Dutch startup contributes data from their participants who opt-in to an ongoing research program called the Psychedelic Survey (psychedelicsurvey.com), a collaborative platform powering today's psychedelic renaissance by giving people around the world the ability to contribute their own psychedelic experiences to science. Carhart-Harris stated that the, “psychedelic survey has revolutionised the way we can do psychedelic research. It gives us the ability to collect large datasets in a cost-effective way. It's not an exaggeration to say that the data we're collecting from Psychedelic Survey could help inform the way psychedelic therapy is done in the future.”

In a recent study powered by psychedelic survey, Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris’s team found that participants had a number of positive effects after using psilocybin truffles in Synthesis' supportive and integrated retreat model. The Synthesis experience was found to significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve sense of wellbeing and emotional stability, and increase connection to self, others and nature.

“Scientific investigation into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics is vital for combating the mental health crisis. Legal, professionally-organised retreats like Synthesis can be a safe way for people to experience the transformational potential of psychedelics, and they can also be a great source of data for research Centre's like our own, helping to further advance the field. I'm excited to continue working alongside Synthesis to provide high-quality services and meaningful scientific research for the psychedelic community.”- Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris

 

Robin’s role as key scientific advisor

  • Developing new initiatives, including the interweaving of predictive methodologies with research data to produce tools useful to support positive transformations in group settings.

  • Continuing scientific research through survey-based results for the Ceremony study with data from Synthesis participants.

  • Exploratory research with psilocybin truffles and various technologies, such as EEG & HRV monitors.

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