From February 7-10, 2014, the official study initiation visit for our new study of MDMA-assisted therapy for social anxiety in autistic adults took place at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. MAPS Clinical Research Scientist Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D., and Clinical Study Assistant Ben Shechet met with the research team, conducted a thorough review of the protocol and subject informed consent forms, conducted a compounding and encapsulation training with the research pharmacy, evaluated the study facilities, helped set up the treatment room, and met with site staff. Led by Charles Grob, M.D., and Alicia Danforth, Ph.D., the goal of this study is to enhance functional skills in autistic adults, an underserved group which tends to experience greater anxiety, depression, and victimization than typically developing adults.
