Join us in the latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast, where we talk with Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley, Director of Research for Heroic Hearts Project UK, Chief Scientific Officer of NW PharmaTech, and founder and CEO of Hystelica. In the episode, she explore where psychedelic studies have largely ignored women’s physiology, particularly in failing to acknowledge and control for hormonal fluctuations. Grace particularly emphasises the necessity for greater investigations and understandings around the intersection of psychedelics and the menstrual cycle, explaining how Hystelica attempts to bridge this gap with naturalistic and observational studies. Throughout, the discussion examines how, by researching these unknowns, we can discover new treatment opportunities that better serve women’s health.

Heroic Hearts Project UK

Hystelica

NWPharmaTech

MDMA

Psilocybin Retreats Study

Mothers of the mushroom

Microdosing Study

In this latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast, we talk with Natalia Rebollo and Jesús Alonso Olamendi of the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ICEERS). They discuss the lasting legacy of colonialism in the psychedelic culture of indigenous communities, stressing the need for the sacredness of these substances to be uplifted and not commodified. Throughout, they explore their work with ICEER’s Ayahuasca Defense Fund and how it has begun to change the narrative surrounding psychedelics in prohibitionist countries. Operating between indigenous communities and the Western world, they provide a unique perspective that shows how both communities can learn from each other.

ICEERS

Ayahuasca Defense Fund

Ayahuasca

DMT

Ayahuasca Legal Battle in France

Technical Report on Ayahuasca

Colombia's CND68 Resolution

Ibogaine

Spanish Ibogaine Trial

Contact Email

Tune in to the latest episode of the drug science podcast where David Nutt meets with Tim Kerr, a doctoral research student in Psychiatry at King’s College London. Tim discusses his journey from slowly falling into drug addiction and dealing whilst studying for his medical degree eventually leading to arrest and imprisonment. Tim shares how he used this time in an open prison to apply for and study a Neuroscience masters with Kings College London with the support of the Longford trust, a charity that supports people with lived experience of prison to access higher education.

The Longford Trust

Howard League for Penal Reform

NHS Practitioner Health

Alcoholic liver disease

Jaundice

Ecstasy

Ketamine

Cocaine

Freud and cocaine

Nitrous oxide

GHB

Spice

Weed

Venlafaxine

Modafinil

Open and closed Prison

Alcoholics Anonymous

Join us in the latest episode of the Drug Science Podcast where David Nutt meets with Psychedelic psychotherapy experts Laurie Higbed and Owain Winfield to dive into how to use psychedelics in psychotherapy. In this episode, they discuss the different techniques used with different psychedelics for different conditions to optimise this type of therapy and why these differences are necessary. They discuss MDMA, Ketamine and Psilocybin in a range of applications including trauma and addictions.

MDMA

Ketamine

Psilocybin

Substance Misuse

PTSD

MAPS

MDMA study into Substance Use Disorder

Compass Pathways

Compass Pathways Psilocybin for Treatment Resistant Depression

Awakn life sciences

Amygdala

Link in show notes

In this episode, we meet with Bessel van Der kolk, a trauma based psychiatrist, author, researcher and educator. Since the 1970s his research has been in the area of post-traumatic stress and he is the author of four books including best seller “the body keeps score”. Within this episode, he dives into what trauma is and different research into the impact trauma can have on the body and brain. He further discusses various traditional and alternative treatments for trauma and where these may be appropriate for different people with specific emphasis on EMDR and MDMA.

The body keeps score

Nutt's paper lancet psychiatry 50 years of failure

MDMA

SSRI

EMDR

Gaba

Benzodiazepines

Rorschach test

Norepinephrine

Bowlby

MAPS

When the spirit catches you, you fall down

Neuroplasticity

In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, David Nutt meets with psychopharmacologist Phil Cowen and Psychiatrist Sameer Jauhar to discuss the neuroscience behind and treatments for depression. Within the episode they touch on various neurotransmitters involved in depression as well as research studies into each of their impact, stigma around antidepressants and the role of psychedelics in treatment.

Depression

Serotonin

Tryptophan

Hamilton depression scale

Antidepressants

Geddes paper on preventing relapse

Support the Podcast

In this episode of the Drug Science podcast, we speak with Josh Dugdale of the Wasing Estate, described as a "mindful aristocrat." He shares his experiences with Ayahuasca in the Amazon and how they influenced his journey upon returning to the UK. Josh discusses the creation of a mindful and spiritual festival during the pandemic, its evolution over time, and its wider impact. He also explores the challenges surrounding psilocybin access rights, the changes needed in this area, and what the future of psychedelic reform might look like.

Medicine Festival

Psilocybin Access Rights

Ayahuasca

Psilocybin

MDMA

Drug Science Reschedule Psilocybin

Medical Cannabis

PTSD Veterans

PTSD

Industrial Hemp Licensing

DEFRA

Subscribe to podcast

Prof Ravi Das is a leading expert in psychopharmacology and cognitive neuroscience, with a career dedicated to understanding and developing innovative treatments for addiction and anxiety disorders. He completed his BSc in Psychology and MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL), followed by a PhD in Psychopharmacology at the UCL Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit.

Prof Das’s research takes a translational and experimental medicine approach, focusing on the mechanisms of memory plasticity and their role in the development of addictive and anxiety disorders. A key area of his work is memory reconsolidation—the process by which established memories become temporarily unstable when retrieved, creating an opportunity to modify maladaptive memories. By targeting these unstable memories, Prof Das explores how drug or behavioral interventions could potentially disrupt the cravings and relapse associated with addiction, the fear underlying anxiety disorders, or the flashbacks experienced in PTSD.

In addition to his work on memory reconsolidation, Prof Das is deeply interested in the phenomenology and effects of illicit drug use, as well as the role of cognitive and mindfulness-based strategies in treating substance use disorders. His research bridges the gap between scientific discovery and clinical application, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective, evidence-based treatments for mental health challenges.

Prof Celia Morgan

Prof Val Curran

Prof Sunjeev Kamboj

Memory Research and consolidation

Biggest DMT study

Placebos in psychedelic clinical trials

Prof Mitul Mehta

Psychedelic gold rush

RFK Jr pro-psychedelics

FDA reject Lykos decision

UNITy screening form

Wellcome Leap

LSD study

Preparation for Psilocybin study

UNITy