[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Fullwidth Header – Background Title – no slider – Section 1″ module_class=”section1_fullwidth_header_bg_title_no_slider-about_us” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”1deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”#00aeef 0%|#d80b8c 70%” background_color_gradient_start=”#00aeef” background_color_gradient_end=”#d80b8c” background_color_gradient_end_position=”70%” background_image=”https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/yehudalab2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/551\/2025\/06\/boliviainteligente-EYnO1knx_8w-unsplash-scaled.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||||false|false” bottom_divider_style=”ramp2″ bottom_divider_color=”#FFFFFF” bottom_divider_height=”11vw” bottom_divider_arrangement=”above_content” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” border_color_all=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”10%||8vw||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0vw||0vw||true|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Title” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”b3e3ff14-5f5c-4608-8ecf-1885ce3da7aa” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”48px” header_line_height=”60px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”24px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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Clinical trials and therapeutic research at our Center are investigating how psychedelic and other therapies affect brain function, biological markers, and long-term recovery in individuals with PTSD and other mental health conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Fullwidth Text Over White Background – Section” module_class=”section_fulllwidth_text_simple” _builder_version=”4.16″ disabled=”on” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#00a6e5″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Our research focuses on the long-term effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), optimal dosing, and treatment protocols for PTSD, depression, and other trauma-related conditions. We examine the biological, neurobiological, and psychological factors involved in trauma, including its intergenerational transmission and impact on diverse populations. Spanning clinical, molecular, and neurobiological studies, our work has included groundbreaking research with combat veterans, Holocaust survivors and their descendants, 9\/11 responders, and survivors of sexual assault. In partnership with the James J. Peters VA and the Icahn School of Medicine, we aim to better understand trauma\u2019s complex effects and develop effective, evidence-based strategies to reduce suffering and support long-term healing.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/forms.office.com\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=YZ3odw9XsEO55GNPRi40uPj0KoaJKNNEnTHrePhIfqtURUVNV05FMTZaMVVWWlNaWUdRQjJBNTRBNy4u” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Research Participation Form” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#DA0BC2″ button_border_width=”13px” button_border_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” button_border_radius=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/yehudalab2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/551\/2022\/12\/9-alt.png” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” header_text_shadow_style=”preset5″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n ACTIVE PSYCHEDELIC-ASSISTED THERAPY STUDIES<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Dose Optimization of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD in Veterans– Recruiting” admin_label=”Toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h3″ body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#00AEEF” link_option_url=”https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT06418178?term=Dose%20Optimization%20of%20MDMA-Assisted%20Therapy%20for%20PTSD&rank=1″ link_option_url_new_window=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n This clinical trial is designed to evaluate the optimal number of MDMA-assisted therapy cycles for the treatment of PTSD in U.S. military veterans. All participants will complete three preparatory sessions, and then complete from one to five cycles of MDMA-assisted therapy.\u00a0 Each cycle is comprised of one all-day MDMA session followed by three non-drug integration therapy sessions.\u00a0 After each cycle, participants will decide with their therapists whether they want to continue with another cycle or terminate treatment, based on their progress, treatment burden, or other factors.\u00a0 Blood samples are also collected before and after treatment for analyses of potential biological predictors of outcome or changes associated with recovery. <\/span><\/p>\n Clinicaltrials.gov<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Contact:<\/p>\n Joshua Park, study coordinator<\/p>\n email:\u00a0Joshua.Park1@va.gov<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n phone: 929-736-3104<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Psilocybin for Intergenerational Trauma– Recruiting” admin_label=”Toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h3″ body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#00AEEF” link_option_url=”https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT06899165?term=psilocybin%20for%20intergenerational%20trauma&rank=1″ link_option_url_new_window=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n This study investigates whether psilocybin-assisted therapy can help reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in people whose parents survived genocide. Research has demonstrated that trauma and PTSD in parents can affect the mental health and biology of their children, even after the threat has passed.\u00a0 This study represents the first trial of a psychedelic treatment for the intergenerational effects of trauma.\u00a0 Outcomes will include the safety and tolerability of the treatment for this population of patients, its effectiveness in reducing distress and improving resilience, and whether it affects how people relate to the trauma experienced by their parents.<\/span><\/p>\n Research Interest Form<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clinicaltrials.gov<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Contact:<\/p>\n Evie Alkin, study coordinator<\/p>\n email: IntergenStudy@mssm.edu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n phone:\u00a0929-489-7440<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Therapists in Training — Recruiting” admin_label=”Toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h3″ body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#00AEEF” link_option_url=”https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT07102576?intr=MDMA&aggFilters=status:rec%20not&rank=10#contacts-and-locations” link_option_url_new_window=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n This study will examine the effects of MDMA-assisted therapy on mental wellbeing in mental healthcare professionals. Participants will be mental health providers in training to become MDMA-assisted therapists, and this protocol will provide an opportunity for them to understand the treatment and the effects of MDMA-assisted therapy that they will be providing to others. The study includes collection of blood at baseline and study termination for biomarker analysis in healthy volunteers, which can be compared to biomarker data from our clinical trials with patients with PTSD.<\/span><\/p>\n Clinicaltrials.gov<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Contact: Lily Fischer, study coordinator<\/span><\/p>\n Email: therapistwellbeing@mssm.edu<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Psilocybin for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder– Recruiting” admin_label=”Toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h3″ body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#00AEEF” link_option_url=”https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT06592833?term=murrough&intr=psilocybin&rank=1″ link_option_url_new_window=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In collaboration with the Depression & Anxiety Center at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, this mechanistic study investigates the role of the 5-HT2A receptor on the subjective effects of psilocybin.\u00a0 Past research has shown that blocking this receptor in humans weakens the psychedelic effects, but in an animal study the block completely stopped the hallucinogenic effects but did not reduce the antidepressant benefits. This hints that the part of the brain responsible for the mood-boosting effects may function separately from the part that causes the psychedelic experience.\u00a0 This randomized trial will test the subjective and treatment effects of psilocybin administered with a drug to block that 5-HT2A receptor or placebo in participants with depression.<\/span><\/p>\n Clinicaltrials.gov<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Contact:<\/span><\/p>\n Depression and Anxiety Center<\/span><\/p>\n email: dac@mssm.edu<\/span><\/p>\n phone: 212-241-6539<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Psilocybin for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder– Recruiting” admin_label=”Toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h3″ body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#00AEEF” link_option_url=”https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT06592833?term=murrough&intr=psilocybin&rank=1″ link_option_url_new_window=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In collaboration with the Depression & Anxiety Center at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, this mechanistic study investigates the role of the 5-HT2A receptor on the subjective effects of psilocybin.\u00a0 Past research has shown that blocking this receptor in humans weakens the psychedelic effects, but in an animal study the block completely stopped the hallucinogenic effects but did not reduce the antidepressant benefits. This hints that the part of the brain responsible for the mood-boosting effects may function separately from the part that causes the psychedelic experience.\u00a0 This randomized trial will test the subjective and treatment effects of psilocybin administered with a drug to block that 5-HT2A receptor or placebo in participants with depression.<\/span><\/p>\n Clinicaltrials.gov<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Contact:<\/span><\/p>\n Depression and Anxiety Center<\/span><\/p>\n email: dac@mssm.edu<\/span><\/p>\n phone: 212-241-6539<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Depression– Recruiting” admin_label=”Toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h3″ body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#00AEEF” link_option_url=”https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT06559826?term=murrough&intr=kap&rank=1″ link_option_url_new_window=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In collaboration with the Depression & Anxiety Center at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, this study is a randomized clinical trial comparing ketamine administered with psychotherapy versus ketamine infusions without therapeutic support in a typical medical setting. Both treatments will last four weeks.\u00a0 Outcome measures include depression, mental wellness, and brain function before, during, and after treatment up to two months post-treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n Clinicaltrials.gov<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Contact: Rachel Fremont, MD, PhD<\/p>\n email:\u00a0rachel.fremont@mssm.edu<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Psilocybin for depression, (Usona multi-site Phase III trial)– Closed for Enrollment” admin_label=”Toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h3″ body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#00AEEF” link_option_url=”https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT06308653?term=NCT06308653&ra=#contacts-and-locations” link_option_url_new_window=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The purpose of this sponsored, Phase III, multi-site, randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of psilocybin 25 mg versus placebo in veterans with Major Depressive Disorder, and to characterize the durability of the initial treatment effect and subsequent response to optional psilocybin re-administration(s) during a 1-year follow-up period.<\/span><\/p>\n Clinicaltrials.gov<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Contact:<\/p>\n Lesley Lu, study coordinator<\/p>\n email:\u00a0lesley.Lu@mssm.edu<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Novel Therapies Neuroimaging study” admin_label=”Toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h3″ body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#00AEEF” link_option_url_new_window=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n These studies leverage the Center\u2019s psychedelic clinical trials by adding functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after psychedelic assisted therapy.\u00a0 Neuroimaging data will be analyzed to identify predictors and correlates of symptom improvement, and to generate hypotheses regarding potential mechanisms of action associated with recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Safety, Tolerability, Outcomes of Psilocybin in Veterans with Spinal Cord Injury — Recruiting Soon” admin_label=”Toggle” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h3″ body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#00AEEF” link_option_url_new_window=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In collaboration with the Spinal Cord Injury research team at the Bronx VA, this study proposes to investigate the safety and tolerability of low to high doses of psilocybin in veterans with Spinal Cord Injury and a history of depression.\u00a0 Secondary outcomes including physical function, pain, mood, and quality of life will be assessed. Will include blood draws at baseline and study termination to assess biomarkers of change and outcome predictors.<\/p>\n