Translational Psychedelic Research Program

The Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program brings together scientists and care providers across disciplines to understand how psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, MDMA, and related compounds impact the brain and other organ systems.

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Translational Psychedelic Research Program

The Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program brings together scientists and care providers across disciplines to investigate psychedelic drugs as potentially transformative treatments for the most serious unmet medical needs. We are dedicated to understanding how psychedelics work in order to best optimize and personalize these treatments to be maximally safe, effective, and accessible for patients.

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in collaboration with:

in partnership with:

Studies

Seguridad y eficacia del tratamiento con psilocibina para la depresión en el trastorno bipolar 2
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Recruiting Now
Psilocybin Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study
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Not Open to Recruitment
Comparing the Effects of Psilocin and Psilocybin in Healthy Adults
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Recruiting Now
Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin Treatment for Depression in Bipolar 2 Disorder
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Recruiting Now
Randomized Clinical Trial of Psilocybin for Depression (Usona Institute)
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Recruitment Closed
Randomized Clinical Trial of Psilocybin for Chronic Low Back Pain
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Recruiting Now
Effects of Psilocybin Therapy on Sleep and Thermoregulation
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A Mixed-Methods Study of Psilocybin Use Among Adults with Bipolar Affective Disorder
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Our Team

We’re a network of researchers with expertise spanning neuroscience, multiple medical specialties, nursing, and psychology.

Faculty

Joshua Woolley, MD, PhD
Director
Ellen Bradley, MD
Associate Director
Aoife O’Donovan, PhD
Amanda Downey, MD
Medical Team Lead
Katiah Llerena, PhD
Director of Assessments
Connie Ludwig, PhD
Assessment Consultant
Holly Hamilton, PhD
Andrew Penn, RN, MS, NP
Ray Rosen, PhD
Marissa Raymond-Flesch, MD, MPH

Facilitators

Gisele Fernandes, MFT
Director of Facilitation
Alex Theberhe, MFT
Aliss Ching Chieh Wang
Gianni Glick, MD
Ayala Kalisher
Andrew Penn, RN, MS, NP
Linnae Ponte, LMFT
Kari Bar
Luara Venturi
Taylor Simon
Ashley Kellem

Medical Team

Amanda Downey, MD
Medical Team Lead
Cindy Lau, NP
Gianni Glick, MD
Fletcher Bell, MD
Michael Dinh, MD

Core Collaborators

David Gard, PhD
Boris Heifets, MD, PhD
Erin Michalak, PhD
Ashley Mason, PhD
Andrew Krystal, MD
Jill Ostrem, MD
Andrea Gomez, PhD

Postdocs

Steve Pratscher, PhD
Leehe Peled-Avron, PhD
Emma Morton, PhD
Jacob Aday, PhD
Parker Kelley, PhD

Graduate Students

Sheila M. Thompson, BS
Sarah Van De Weert, MA
Sam Loomis, MA
Jacqueline Golub, MA
Julia Fox, MA

Staff & Research Assistants

Kim Sakai
Program Manager
Lisa Fredenburg, MS
Sr. Study Coordinator
Zachary Busby
Sr. Study Coordinator
Jake Gibson
Study Coordinator
Amber McKernan
Study Coordinator
Jerusalem Nerayo
Study Coordinator
Cesar Molina
Study Coordinator
Jason Young
Admin. Assistant

Work with us

Developing psychedelic treatments is an interdisciplinary challenge. We welcome a wide range of people with expertise in science and health care, knowing that different perspectives create a stronger and more creative team. We aim to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in line with this statement.

Thinking about participating in a study or want to learn more?

Contact us at psilocybinstudies@ucsf.edu

Interested in working with us as a volunteer research assistant / intern?

Please complete our TrPR Volunteer Application

Seeking paid work at TrPR?

See our current job listings for research staff

Post-doc applicants - please forward your resume/CV and cover letter to psilocybinstudies@ucsf.edu