Most recent update on this conference
A conference organized by MAPS
August 30 - September 1, 1999
MAPS sponsored an international conference on the clinical use of MDMA, August 31 and September 1, 1999, which brought together scientists from eight countries, including a representative of every team in the world that has administered MDMA or MDE to human subjects. The conference provided information to Israeli regulators needed in determining whether to grant permission for a pilot study of MDMA in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. MAPS is seeking to sponsor this study at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in association with Dr. Moshe Kotler and Dr. Adam Darnell. The conference encouraged the exchange of information and collaboration between research teams around the world. In addition to the neurotoxicity research, scientists presented data from studies comparing MDMA using ravers with non-MDMA using control groups who had used cannabis or no drugs. The only functional differences found were in the areas of certain subsets of memory, with the MDMA using group performing somewhat lower. The consensus was that these difference were statistically significant but clinically insignificant, meaning that neither the subjects nor the testers could tell the groups apart in normal social situations or in life performance. In addition, evidence was presented from animal research that showed conclusively that neurotoxicity (serotonin reductions that are asymptomatic) is related to temperature. This research invalidates risk assessments for clinical research based on ravers who take MDMA in high-ambient temperatures, exercise vigorously, and sometimes do not consume sufficient fluids. The consensus of the conference was that MDMA research in humans is important, that it can be conducted safely, that there are sufficient anecdotal reports and case histories of the therapeutic use of MDMA to justify research into the therapeutic use of MDMA, that the risk of neurotoxicity is clearly outweighed by potential benefits in patients who are either terminal or have failed on conventional medications, and that international collaboration, data sharing, protocol critiques and letters of support to national regulatory bodies is valuable and will be facilitated by MAPS. Conference agenda:
Therapeutic Uses
Juraj Styk, MD and Sonja Styk, MD
Deborah Mash, Ph.D.
Raphael Mechoulam, MD Phase 1 Studies
Charles Grob, MD - Harbor UCLA Medical Center.
Jordi Cami, MD, Ph.D.
Franz Vollenweider, MD - University of Zuerich, Switzerland.
Reese Jones, MD - University of California, San Francisco.
John Henry, Ph.D. - Imperial College School of Medicine. Drug Discrimination and Focused Safety Studies
Efi Gouzoulis, MD - Psychiatric Department of the Technical
University (RWTH) - Aachen, Germany.
Manny Tancer, MD - Wayne State Medical School - Michigan.
Magi Farre, MD, Ph.D. - Institut Muncipal d'Investigacions Mediques.
Alex Gamma - University of Zuerich, Switzerland.
Wim Riedel, Ph.D. - University of Maastricht, The Netherlands. Neurotoxicity
Franz Vollenweider, MD - University of Zuerich, Switzerland.
Alex Gamma - University of Zuerich, Switzerland.
Matt Baggott - University of California, San Francisco.
Jon Cole, Ph.D. - University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Lew Seiden, Ph.D. - University of Chicago, Illinois. Proposed Therapy Protocols and Policy Issues
Charles Grob, MD - Harbor UCLA Medical Center.
Jose Carlos Bouso, Ph.D. candidate
Moshe Kotler, MD and Adam Darnell, MD
Mark Kleiman, Ph.D. - UCLA School of Public Policy
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