From Bench to Bedside: Progress in Psychedelic Research - David Nichols, PhD (Mapping the Mind 2019)
Channel: Mapping the Mind
Date: 2019-11-10

From Bench to Bedside: Progress in Psychedelic Research
In this presentation, Dr. David Nichols will first present an overview of the historical uses and significance of various naturally occurring psychedelic agents. Then, there will be a short discussion of the brain target for psychedelics, and how they were tested in animal models. There will then be a short “chemistry” discussion, illustrating how certain analogues of LSD were used to predict the orientation of the two ethyl groups of LSD, and how that prediction was validated by solving the crystal structure of LSD bound within the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor. That will be followed by comments about clinical studies of psilocybin supported by the Heffter Research Institute, which was founded by Dr. Nichols in 1993. Finally, concluding remarks will focus on the mechanism whereby psychedelics may bring about therapeutic efficacy. Filmed as part of Mapping the Mind 2019 in Toronto.

Filmed as part of Mapping the Mind: Toronto Psychedelic Science Conference 2019.