MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin Ph.D. visited Amman, Jordan to further explore MAPS planned Jordanian MDMA/PTSD study. Principal Investigator Dr. Nasser Shuriquie, who had been working for the Royal Jordanian Medical Services at the Jordanian Military Hospital in Amman, has taken a new position as the medical director of Al-Rashid Hospital, the first and largest psychiatric hospital in Jordan. Rick visited with Nasser at Al-Rashid and met with the hospital administrator Dr. Rifat Dadawi Al-Masri. After discussions and a tour of the facilities, Rick concluded that Al-Rashid Hospital would be an excellent place to conduct our study.
While in Jordan, Rick was introduced by Nasser to representatives of Clinquest JO, a clinical research organization that assists pharmaceutical companies with conducting clinical studies in accordance with Jordanian and international standards of clinical research. The representatives are General Manager Maha Tutunji, M.D. and Managing Director Kamilla Novak, M.D. It is likely that MAPS will hire Clinquest to conduct data and study monitoring and manage Jordanian regulatory affairs. This will make conducting the study in Jordan more economical and convenient. The next steps for the Jordanian study are to finalize the protocol design elements for budgeting and submission to regulatory authorities in Jordan.
MAPS lead researcher Michael Mithoefer M.D. and Rick are planning a visit to Jordan on October 20, to speak to Nasser and associates about the results of our US study and our treatment method. This visit is timed so Michael and Rick can also attend an international scientific conference on PTSD taking place in Israel.
