MAPS Research News

Research: MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD

MAPS Completes Enrollment, as Planned, for the Confirmatory Phase 3 Trial of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD

The second, confirmatory Phase 3 trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD is now fully enrolled at 13 sites in the United States and Israel
Completion of enrollment on schedule supports targeted submission of the New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first half of 2023
Health Equity initiatives to enroll BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ participants improved representation of populations more likely to develop PTSD following exposure to trauma

The non-profit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAPS, announced that a blinded administrative interim analysis has confirmed no changes to the planned sample size are necessary to provide sufficient statistical power in evaluating efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the second of two Phase 3 trials (MAPP2). Per the special protocol agreement negotiated with the FDA for the confirmatory trial, MAPP2 was designed to enroll at least 100 participants in order to confirm efficacy and further investigate safety of the treatment.

Phase 3 Trials of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD: Study Site Opens for Phone Screening in Tel Hashomer, Israel

On February 3, our Phase 3 study site for MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Tel Hashomer, Israel, officially opened for phone screenings and informed consent visits. Led by Principal Investigator Jana Yakirevitch, M.D., this is an FDA-regulated Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.

All Study Sites Open in Phase 3 Cross-Over Extension Study

On March 22, 2022, all study sites met the criteria to provide treatment in the cross-over extension study for MAPS-sponsored Phase 3 trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

All subjects who received placebo plus therapy in the double-blind portion of our first Phase 3 study of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD are given the opportunity to participate free-of-charge in a similarly designed study to receive MDMA plus therapy.

Long-Term Follow Up Study of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD

Enrollment is continuing for our long-term follow up study for our MDMA-assisted therapy parent studies. The long-term follow up study is open to individuals who participated and received MDMA in at least one experimental session in one of the following MAPS-sponsored MDMA-assisted therapy studies: open-label lead-in Phase 2 trials (U.S. and Canada), our two Phase 3 trials, or our Phase 3 cross-over trial.

Participation in this study will help us better understand the long-term effects of our treatment protocols. The long-term follow up study visits will be done remotely if the participant received treatment at a study site within the United States. If a participant had previously declined to participate in this follow-up study, it is not too late to enroll. Volunteers who received treatment in one of the aforementioned studies and wish to participate in this follow-up can reach out to their study coordinator for more information. Volunteers will receive $250 for participating in this study.

MAPS Places Fully Validated, Multi-Kilogram Synthesis of MDMA in the Public Domain

Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) have developed the first validated commercial synthetic process for producing multi-kilogram batches of MDMA under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
The availability of larger quantities of cGMP-compliant MDMA will facilitate ongoing clinical trials and provide for future therapeutic use following anticipated regulatory approvals
Publication of this process establishes “prior art,” contributing to MAPS’ patient access strategy by making intellectual property public

MDMA is a promising psychedelic compound, currently placed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, that has been produced for legal research in small batches by certified laboratories. An increasing interest in clinical study of the 110-year-old compound, combined with anticipated regulatory approvals of MDMA-assisted therapy, necessitate the development of a multi-kilogram current cGMP production process by the leading research sponsor, MAPS, and trial organizer, MAPS PBC. “Fully Validated, Multi-Kilogram cGMP Synthesis of MDMA” recently published in ACS Omega, a journal of the American Chemical Society, is the first paper to describe a fully validated cGMP synthesis of up to 5 kg (≈30,000 patient doses) of MDMA in a four-step process beginning with a non-controlled starting material.

EXPANDED ACCESS

Expanded Access is a program that allows patients to receive an investigational treatment not yet approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment outside of a clinical trial. The program is intended for patients with serious or life-threatening conditions who do not have any promising treatment options and are unable to participate in ongoing clinical trials. Only sites within the U.S and U.S territories are eligible to participate in the FDA Expanded Access Program.

The rationale for our Expanded Access program is not only to treat more patients with MDMA-assisted therapy, but also to understand logistics of how MDMA-assisted therapy will be administered post-approval by generating real world evidence (RWE). Learn more: maps.org/mdma/ptsd/expanded-access/.

Expanded Access Study Site in California Begins Screening

The Expanded Access Program study site at Sage Integrative Health in Berkeley, California, began screening participants for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in early March 2022.

Our multi-site expanded access study site for MDMA-assisted therapy for patients with treatment-resistant PTSD at the Pearl Psychedelic Institute in Waynesville, North Carolina, was activated for phone screening in December 2021 and is continuing to screen participants.

Ten Phone Screenings Conducted in Expanded Access Study for MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD

Second Site Initiation Visit Conducted for Multi-Site Expanded Access Program for MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD

On December 8, 2021, the MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) conducted the second site initiation visit (SIV) for our multi-site expanded access program for MDMA-assisted therapy for patients with treatment-resistant PTSD at a site in Berkeley, California. The site is anticipated to open for screening in January 2022.

MAPS EUROPE

MAPS is Granted Innovation Passport in United Kingdom for MDMA as an Adjunct to Therapy for PTSD

We are thrilled to announce that the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) Innovation Passport has been granted to MDMA as an adjunct to therapy for PTSD in the United Kingdom!⁠ This ILAP designation acknowledges that MDMA-assisted therapy may have unique potential as a safe and effective treatment for PTSD. While the Innovation Passport does not reduce the burden of demonstrating that a treatment may be safe and effective, it does provide research organizers with expert advice, patient input, and collaboration throughout the clinical trial design and development process through a product-specific Target Development Profile.⁠

“The ILAP Innovation Passport will ensure MDMA as an adjunct to therapy can be made widely available, as rapidly as possible, for the UK PTSD patients who need it,” says Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC).⁠ Read our statement about the ILAP at maps.org/news.

Enrollment Continues in Open-Label, Phase 2, Multicenter Feasibility Study of Manualized MDMA-Assisted Therapy with an Optional fMRI Sub-Study Assessing Changes in Brain Activity in Subjects with PTSD in Europe

MAPS Europe is delighted to announce that several sites have joined those in study sites in The Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Norway in enrolling participants in our open-label Phase 2 study of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Participant recruitment is expected to begin at sites for this study in London and Hamburg in the coming months, along with a new site in Barcelona, Spain. This Phase 2 study, with an optional fMRI sub-study assessing changes in brain activity in subjects with PTSD, is led by Principal Investigator Eric Vermetten, MD.

On March 23, 2022, the first site in the United Kingdom was activated and began screening participants. The team at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London – South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (KCL-SLaM) led by Dr. James Rucker and supported by the UK Chief Investigator Prof. Allan Young, saw their first participants in April.

On March 7, 2022, recruitment of participants into the MP18 study began at the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences in the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, in Berlin, Germany, one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. The site is led by Dr. Dimitris Repantis.

The MAPS Europe team is also working to gain regulatory and ethical approval for the long-term follow-up (LTFU) study (MPELONG). The team recently received Conditional Approval from European regulators via the Voluntary Harmonisation Procedure (VHP). This protocol is currently being implemented in The Netherlands and Norway.

PHASE 2 / SINGLE STUDY

A Phase 2, Open-Label, Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Study for MDMA-Assisted Therapy in U.S. Military Veterans with Chronic PTSD

Rachel Yehuda, Ph.D., Director at the Mental Health Patient Care Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, and Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital is leading a Phase 2, open-label randomized controlled comparative study on the effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy in U.S. Veterans with chronic PTSD.The study is a part of the investigator-initiated research program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

On April 15, 2022, the second and third participants were screened for treatment.

On February 3, 2022, the first participant received treatment.

An Open-Label Feasibility and Safety Study of MDMA-Assisted Group Therapy for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans Receives Full IRB Approval

In January 2022, a Phase 2 study to assess MDMA-assisted group therapy for the treatment of PTSD in veterans received full approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The study is located at the Portland Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Oregon and led by Principal Investigator Chris Stauffer, M.D. This is an open-label, non-randomized, three cohort study and will include up to 18 participants.

Awakn Life Sciences and MAPS to Explore Partnership for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder in Europe

On January 19, 2022, MAPS entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Awakn Life Sciences Corp., a biotechnology company developing and delivering psychedelic therapeutics to treat substance use disorders. Awakn and MAPS will explore the feasibility of a partnership to utilize MDMA-assisted therapy to treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in Europe.

“MAPS’ role in driving and advancing the use of psychedelics in the clinical setting over the last 35 years is second to none,” said Anthony Tennyson, CEO of Awakn. Read our announcement about the agreement at maps.org/news.

Food Effect on Bioavailability of MDMA in Healthy Volunteers Study: January 2022 Update

Enrollment in our food effect study on the bioavailability of MDMA in healthy volunteers is expected to begin in Spring 2022. This study will be conducted at a Phase 1 clinical research unit in Knoxville, Tennessee, and will enroll 12 healthy volunteers.

Participants will have two dosing sessions at least two weeks apart and will check into the clinical research unit the night before the dosing session. In one dosing session, participants will consume a high-calorie meal prior to dosing, and in the other session, dosing will happen while the participant is in a fasted state. Participants will remain in the unit for two days after dosing during which time blood will be drawn at specified time points to assess the effect that food has on the bioavailability of MDMA. There is no therapy component to this study.

Results for Phase 1 Randomized Controlled Trial of MDMA and Fear Extinction Retention in Healthy Adults Published in Psychopharmacology

On February 15, 2022, the results of the MAPS-sponsored study by Barbara Rothbaum, Ph.D., and team at Emory University evaluating MDMA on the startle response in healthy adults was published in the medical journal Psychopharmacology. This randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 1 mechanism of action study investigated the effects of MDMA on startle testing learning in healthy volunteers in comparison to a placebo control.

Therapist Training Session Completed in Israel

MAPS Israel hosted a MDMA-assisted therapy training for 75 therapists in Neve Shalom, Israel, in October 2021. During the week-long training, participants were exposed to clinical content focusing on the therapeutic approach of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. The training focused on the core principles and skills of the therapist who will administer MDMA-assisted therapy via case presentations, videos, and experiential exercises based on mindfulness, role-playing games, and discussions in small and large groups. An additional training will launch in September 2022.

Investigator-Initiated Trials Updates

We are excited to share recent progress with our investigator-initiated trial (IIT) program! The MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) IIT program is designed to create an ever-growing network of qualified clinicians whose passion and innovative questioning help to inspire new possibilities within the path to expanding patient access and the conditions that MDMA-assisted therapy may be possible in treating. To learn more about these studies, visit the official study page clinicaltrials.gov

A Phase 2 Open-Label Study to Assess the Feasibility of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Veterans with Combat-Related, Refractory PTSD

Dr. Shannon Remick, Dr. Allie Kaigle, and a team of researchers at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Loma Linda Healthcare System in Loma Linda, California, are conducting a study to assess the feasibility of MDMA-Assisted therapy for combat-related treatment-resistant PTSD in U.S. military veterans. This investigator-initiated trial was the first to administer MDMA to a vet with PTSD inside the VA system. Two participants have now completed treatment. The study will enroll up to 10 participants.

Social Anxiety MDMA-Assisted Therapy Investigation (SAMATI)

Dr. Jason Luoma and a team of researchers at Portland Psychotherapy in Portland, Oregon, are conducting a study to assess the safety and effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy in treating individuals with moderate-to-severe social anxiety disorder (SAD). The team at Portland Psychotherapy plans to treat up to 20 participants.

The site is seeking volunteers to participate. Learn more by visiting: portlandmdmatherapy.com/participate/

The Influence of MDMA on the Reward Circuits in the Human Brain of Healthy Individuals

Dr. Leanne Williams and a team of researchers at Stanford University in Stanford, California, are conducting an observational study to assess the impact of MDMA on the regulating circuits of the brain in healthy individuals using fMRI. Two participants have received MDMA so far. The team at Stanford University will enroll up to 13 more participants this year. The study will enroll up to 40 participants.

A Phase 2 Open-Label Treatment Development Study of MDMA-Assisted Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD

Dr. Anne Wagner and a team of researchers at Remedy Institute in Toronto, Ontario, are conducting an open-label treatment development study of MDMA-assisted cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for individuals with PTSD. One participant has completed their first treatment session. The team at Remedy Institute will enroll up to 10 participants.

An Open-Label Feasibility Study to Assess the Safety and Effect of Manualised MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Severe Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Four Australians

Dr. Stephen Bright and a team of researchers at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup, Western Australia, are conducting a study to assess the safety and effect of manualised MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of severe PTSD among four Australians. This study is also being conducted for the training of the therapists by providing supervision as the therapists work with their initial PTSD participants. The team has received the study drug and will begin recruiting participants over the coming months.

A Phase 1 Study on the Effects of MDMA on Prefrontal and Amygdala Activation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Dr. Benjamin Kelmendi and a team of researchers at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, are studying the effects of MDMA on prefrontal and amygdala activation in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), by fMRI. This investigator-initiated trial is recruiting and plans to enroll 20 participants.

THERAPY TRAINING

MDMA Therapy Training Program Update: Spring 2022 Update

The 2022 training schedule for the MDMA Therapy Training Program has been posted on the training website (mapspublicbenefit.com/training), including options for a blended (online/in person) training format and an entirely virtual training format.

Applications are being accepted for the MDMA Therapy Training Programs. Previously submitted applications will remain on file and will be reviewed for upcoming training opportunities.

For eligible applicants interested in applying for a MAPS Health Equity Scholarship, please find more information and the link to the application on our scholarship webpage.

Blended format cohorts:

May 22-28, Colorado (Online Course started in April)
June 12-19, New York (Online Course starts in May)
September 12-18, North Carolina (Online Course starts in August)
September 25-October 1, Colorado (Online Course Starts in August)
October 9-14, New York (Online Course starts in September)

Virtual cohorts (subject to change):

Fall 2022 Virtual Cohort (October – January)

In April 2022, we launched our first 100-hour blended (online/in person) training program and hosted a week-long in-person training retreat in North Carolina (pictured above). We welcomed over 75 trainees from all over the U.S. and a few international locations including Canada and Brazil. The training retreat included learning seminars, case video presentations, ethics and safety education, practice scenarios, and guest speakers. A dozen new employees, including MAPS PBC’s new COO, Mike Mullette, participated in this training as part of a recent onboarding process.

In March 2022, the MDMA Therapy Training Program team kicked off the training season with a practice workshop with Naropa University and a week-long virtual training in collaboration with the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research at Mount Sinai and the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs.

Here are a few reflections that our recent trainees have shared about their MDMA Therapy Training experiences:

“Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this training. Gives me hope for the future of mental health care for the Veteran community. Thank you all for putting it together.”

“Best training I’ve ever had, honestly. Including outside of the VA.”

“Thank you, Annie and Michael, for weathering so many storms bringing this treatment to the world and for never losing sight of what’s important.”

“I am grateful I was able to participate in this first in-person retreat after the pandemic and am looking forward to more. Despite my newness to MDMA, I would love to become more involved.”

“The training staff was amazing. They were attentive, kind, generous, organized, knowledgeable, responsive, present, and caring. This says a lot about the organization, its leadership, the kind of people it attracts, and how much effort, thought, and care goes into this retreat.”

In 2021, the team rolled out and initiated our Health Equity Scholarship program, part of a larger commitment to increasing inclusion and equity in our programs. Over the course of this year, we were able to allocate and award $900,000 in Health Equity scholarships, amounting to a total of 231 scholarships. We are currently working to continue and expand this initiative for 2022 and beyond.

The training program enrolled 800 trainees in their 2021 online cohorts.

By awarding funds through the MAPS Health Equity Scholarship, the MDMA Therapy Training Program hopes to continue the efforts to create these outcomes in 2022:

Create a more accessible training program to ensure that the network of MDMA-Assisted Therapy Practitioners is vast and able to support diverse communities suffering from a spectrum of trauma.
Increase the number of MAPS-Certified MDMA-Assisted Therapy Practitioners who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
Train and learn from more therapy practitioners who live and work in historically marginalized communities.
Foster connection and validate unique experiences of trauma in marginalized communities.

MDMA Therapy Training Program Retreat Takes Place in Black Mountain, North Carolina

We were excited to welcome the special joys of meeting trainees for our first in-person retreat in 2022, which took place from April 3-9 in Black Mountain, North Carolina. We were thrilled and grateful to facilitate a meaningful six days of learning, exploration, discovery, and healing.

The Monte Vista Hotel in charming, historic Black Mountain served as our retreat home. Here trainees watched video-based case studies, listened to informative lectures, and participated in collaborative group work to further develop their therapeutic skills and knowledge. This retreat was taught under the guidance of our MDMA Therapy Training Program Lead Trainers, Annie Mithoefer, B.S.N., and Michael Mithoefer, M.D., who have worked in this field for decades.

Our retreats also serve as opportunities to develop relationships with other aspiring practitioners in the MDMA-assisted therapy community. Trainees can partake in morning yoga, group dinners, and fun outings, which are intended to facilitate deeper connections and networking within the industry.

Training Collaboration with Naropa University

The Naropa University Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies is a ten-month contemplatively-based professional training program featuring a hybrid delivery of online and intensive retreat-based learning. This non-degree Certificate will provide post-graduate level training in essential aspects of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, trauma-informed care, and spiritual integration. In collaboration with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Naropa offers specialized training in the clinical use of MDMA in approved settings. Trainees will also gain foundational competencies in psilocybin therapies and ketamine-assisted therapy. Naropa began as a Buddhist-inspired university and now flourishes as an institution that brings together contemplative pedagogy and a commitment to socially-engaged activism.

Adherence Rating

The Adherence Rater Program completed its sixth Adherence Rater Training. Adherence Raters are mental health professionals who review session videos from the MAPS-sponsored clinical trials to ensure adherence to the treatment manual, and support ongoing therapist oversight. Over the past year, our small-but-mighty team of Adherence Raters has reviewed and rated over a thousand hours of session footage in five different languages for the MAPS-sponsored trials!

Supervision and Consultation

The Supervision Program continues to provide oversight and support to therapists working on the MAPS-sponsored and Investigator-Initiated Trials of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD. Over the past year, supervisors have conducted 150 supervision meetings with therapists working on the MAPS-sponsored trials.

Planning efforts are underway for our Supervision Program which includes the development of upcoming Supervisor Training events and continued support of MAPS-trained MDMA-assisted therapy practitioners.

Supervision and Consultation are provided to MAPS-sponsored and Investigator-Initiated Trials all over the world. Starting this month, Consultation provided by MAPS-Certified Supervisors is also supporting the use of MDMA-assisted therapy in Switzerland in a clinical setting, where Compassionate Use guidelines allow for the use of psychedelic therapies.

MAPS News

MAPS and MAPS PBC Publish Patient Bill of Rights for Psychedelic Therapy

Patient Bills of Rights are made available to patients in various settings across the mental health and medical fields to communicate clearly with patients about what they can expect from professionals
The Patient Bill of Rights is a plain-language companion to the MAPS Code of Ethics for Psychedelic Psychotherapy
The publication of the MAPS Patient Bill of Rights for Psychedelic Therapy is one of several important tools to inform patients about professional and ethical standards in anticipation of regulatory approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD

On February 10, 2022, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and its wholly-owned subsidiary responsible for organizing clinical research and training practitioners, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) published the MAPS Patient Bill of Rights for Psychedelic Therapy. Patient Bills of Rights are a standard tool across mental health and medical care which provide patients with the information they need to advocate for their rights and establish expectations for their rights in provision of care, privacy, non-discrimination, decision making, and information about their treatment plan. Read more at maps.org/safety.

MAPS PBC Adopts Charter for Independent Ethics Review Board

Independent members will inform continual iteration and improvement of ethical governance of MDMA-assisted therapy research and therapist training program
Independent Ethical Review Board engages outside experts to provide additional layer of review, guiding MAPS and MAPS PBC’s commitment to exceptional ethical practice in MDMA-assisted therapy and fostering a culture of safety for all who receive psychedelic-assisted therapies
Outside advisors with established expertise in therapy ethics, alongside an advocate for survivors of abuse in a therapeutic context, will review and recommend improvements on MAPS and MAPS PBC’s ongoing development of ethical policies and practices

The Board of Directors of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) recommended, and the Board of Directors of its wholly-owned subsidiary MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) adopted, a charter to form an Independent Ethics Review Board (IERB). Comprised of independent members, the IERB will include experts in ethics and psychotherapy and, in accordance with best practices, an advocate for survivors with lived experience of abuse or misconduct in a psychotherapeutic context.

Michael Mullette Joins MAPS PBC Senior Leadership as Chief Operating Officer

Former Moderna Vice President and Managing Director for North America recruited to prepare MAPS PBC for patient access and commercialization of the first psychedelic-assisted therapy anticipated to be approved by the FDA
Hire represents a major step forward in building world-class pharmaceutical organization capable of meeting significant patient need

On March 8, 2022, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) announced that Michael Mullette, an experienced drug development and commercialization expert, has joined its senior leadership team as Chief Operating Officer. Mullette most recently served as the Vice President and Managing Director of North America for Moderna, where he oversaw commercialization of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine during the height of the pandemic.

**Revised Edition of The Secret Chief Revealed: Conversations with Leo Zeff, Pioneer in the Underground Psychedelic Therapy Movement Now Available**

One of the most important texts in the history of psychedelic-assisted therapy, The Secret Chief Revealed, is again available from your local independent bookstore, the MAPS Store, and perhaps even at your library. The Secret Chief Revealed is an in-depth, first-hand account of Leo Zeff, Ph.D., a pioneering psychedelic therapist who conducted MDMA-assisted therapy sessions both prior to and following MDMA’s prohibition. Originally published by MAPS in 2004, The Secret Chief Revealed is written as a transcription of an interview conducted in the 1980s with Zeff about his research, studies, and practice with psychedelic-assisted therapy.

atai Impact Donates to MAPS to Support Pioneering Work in Psychedelic Medicine

Leading non-profit and commercial organizations in psychedelic science united in visions to heal mental health conditions
Donation is from atai Impact, the philanthropic arm of mental health company, atai Life Sciences
Funds will help support the general operations of MAPS, including its Health Equity Program to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in psychedelic healthcare

On February 18, 2022, atai Impact, the philanthropic program of atai Life Sciences (atai) and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies (MAPS), announced a $500,000 donation from atai Impact to MAPS. This donation is an important demonstration of the synergy and collaboration across the leading non-profit and commercial organizations to advance psychedelic medicine and tackle the escalating mental health crisis affecting over one billion people worldwide.

MAPS Attends Horizons Conference in New York City

From December 1-5, MAPS staff members and affiliates attended the 14th annual Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in New York, New York. The team hosted an educational and fundraising booth with MAPS-published books, apparel, and learning materials about psychedelic-assisted therapy. Horizons is an annual conference that examines the role of psychedelics and plant medicines in science, medicine, culture, and spirituality. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the MAPS booth!

The Zendo Project at Burning Man 2022

The Zendo Project is excited to provide psychedelic peer support services for the 9th year at Burning Man 2022 in Black Rock City, Nevada! Zendo Project volunteer applications have now opened. All volunteers will need to purchase their own Burning Man tickets. Stay tuned to the MAPS Newsletter or the Zendo Project Email Newsletter for future details. We are looking forward to reconnecting with the amazing volunteers that make this project thrive!

Zendo Project and Lightning in a Bottle

After a long break from in-person events, the Zendo Project has decided to focus all our efforts toward Burning Man 2022. Therefore, the Zendo Project will not be attending Lightning in a Bottle (LIB) this year. This is the first time the Zendo Project will not provide peer support services at LIB since 2014. We are incredibly grateful to all the Zendo Project volunteers who provided compassionate care to guests at LIB over the years. Thank you for being a leader in festival peer support and for your amazing work!

It is our understanding that Harm Reduction and Sanctuary services at LIB in 2022 will be provided by RGX Medical. If you are interested in getting involved, you can visit their website (rgxmedical.com) and apply to volunteer.