Psychedelics Research and Therapeutics

• Dr Daniel Perkins

  Unit Head

  +61 3 8344 9111

Research Overview

The Psychedelic Research and Therapeutics Unit is a multidisciplinary research group investigating the potential therapeutic use of psychedelic compounds as innovative mental health treatments.

Mental health disorders are both a cause and consequence of disadvantage and inequality, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that disproportionately affects marginalised populations. Psychedelic therapies represent a novel approach to treating severe, treatment-resistant conditions, with emerging evidence suggesting their potential to address underlying causes of trauma, depression, and chronic stress. Research suggests that these therapies may offer rapid and enduring mental health and wellbeing benefits, with a favourable safety and tolerability profile.

Our work investigates the use of these compounds as transformative mental health therapies, potential risks or harms, and the unique clinical, policy, regulatory and ethical challenges that psychedelic compounds present.

With a commitment to rigorous, evidence-based research, the Unit’s work spans experimental, clinical, regulatory, and naturalistic contexts to explore key areas such as:

• Therapeutic applications: Investigating the use of psychedelic therapies for the treatment of conditions such as depression, addiction and PTSD, particularly for individuals unresponsive to conventional treatments.
• Mechanisms of action: Examining how psychedelic compounds influence brain function, emotional regulation, and psychological parameters to provide insights into potential therapeutic effects.
• Therapeutic frameworks: Understanding the role of psychotherapeutic methods and models, including set and setting, in optimising safety and efficacy.
• Policy and regulation: Identifying policy and regulatory challenges and gaps and informing the development of evidence-based approaches.
• Risks and safety management: Investigating potential adverse effects and safety concerns, and ways in which these can be mitigated.
• Health equity and accessibility: Identifying barriers and solutions for equitable access to psychedelic therapies, including reimbursement models and funding mechanisms that facilitate needs-based access.
• Ethical considerations: Considering the ethical implications of using psychedelics in therapeutic contexts, including respecting traditional Indigenous practices and knowledge and supporting cultural preservation.
• Therapeutics development: Exploring the formulation, synthesis, and production of psychedelic compounds to optimise their pharmacological properties and safety.

Staff

Dr Daniel Perkins (Unit Head)

Dr Andreas Halman

Professor Richard Chenhall

Dr Simon Ruffell

Graduate Researchers

Tessa Cowley-Court

Research Projects

• Phase 1 study of a DMT-harmala alkaloid drug product
• Effects of legal ayahuasca retreats on military veterans
• Phase 2 study of a DMT-based medicine for depression and alcohol use disorder
• Drug interactions between psychedelics compounds
• Therapeutic effects and risks associated with prescribed medicinal cannabis use

Contact Details

Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street
The University of Melbourne
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
Victoria, 3010, Australia

Tel: +61 3 8344 9111

Research Publications

Halman, A., R. Conyers, C. Moore, D. Khatri, J. Sarris and D. Perkins (2025). "Harnessing Pharmacogenomics in Clinical Research on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy." Clin Pharmacol Ther 117(1): 106-115.

Perkins, D., J. Sarris, T. Cowley-Court, H. Aicher, L. F. Tófoli, J. Carlos Bouso, E. Opaleye, A. Halman, N. Galvão-Coelho and V. Schubert (2024). "Associations Between Ayahuasca Use in Naturalistic Settings and Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes: Analysis of a Large Global Dataset." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs: 1-12.

Halman, A., R. Chenhall and D. Perkins (2024). "Changes in Pain and Mental Health Symptoms Associated with Prescribed Medicinal Cannabis Use: A One-Year Longitudinal Study." J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother: 1-13.

Sebben, B., J. Stone, J. Sarris, D. Perkins, K. Mallie, S. Barnett, S. G. D. Ruffell and V. L. Beesley (2024). "Psychedelic medicine and cultural responsiveness: A call for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement in Australian clinical trials and practice." Aust N Z J Public Health 48(6): 100200.

Ruffell, S. G., S. Gandy, W. Tsang, R. Lopez, N. O’Rourke, A. Akhtar, N. Netzband, J. Hollingdale, D. Perkins and J. Sarris (2024). "Participation in an indigenous Amazonian-led ayahuasca retreat associated with increases in nature relatedness – a pilot study." Drug Science, Policy and Law 10: 20503245241235100.

Halman, A., G. Kong, J. Sarris and D. Perkins (2023). "Drug–drug interactions involving classic psychedelics: A systematic review." Journal of Psychopharmacology 38(1): 3-18.

Perkins, D., S. G. D. Ruffell, K. Day, D. Pinzon Rubiano and J. Sarris (2023). "Psychotherapeutic and neurobiological processes associated with ayahuasca: A proposed model and implications for therapeutic use." Front Neurosci 16: 879221.

Perkins, D., E. Opaleye, J. C. Bouso, L. F. Tófoli, J. Sarris, V. Schubert, S. Ruffell and H. Simonova (2023). "Insights, Life Changes and Lifestyle Changes Reported by Individuals Consuming Ayahuasca in Naturalistic Settings: Nature, Frequency and Associations with Mental Health and Wellbeing." Psychoactives 2(4): 256-286.

Cowley-Court, T., R. Chenhall, J. Sarris, J. C. Bouso, L. F. Tófoli, E. S. Opaleye, V. Schubert and D. Perkins (2023). "Life after Ayahuasca: A Qualitative Analysis of the Psychedelic Integration Experiences of 1630 Ayahuasca Drinkers from a Global Survey." Psychoactives 2(2): 201-221.

Perkins, D., B. A. Pagni, J. Sarris, P. C. R. Barbosa and R. Chenhall (2022). "Changes in mental health, wellbeing and personality following ayahuasca consumption: Results of a naturalistic longitudinal study." Frontiers in Pharmacology 13.

Bouso, J. C., Ó. Andión, J. J. Sarris, M. Scheidegger, L. F. Tófoli, E. S. Opaleye, V. Schubert and D. Perkins (2022). "Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca Survey." PLOS Global Public Health 2(11): e0000438.

de Meiroz Grilo, M. L. P., G. M. de Sousa, L. A. C. de Mendonca, B. Lobao-Soares, M. B. C. de Sousa, F. Palhano-Fontes, D. B. de Araujo, D. Perkins, J. E. C. Hallak and N. L. Galvao-Coelho (2022). "Prophylactic action of ayahuasca in a non-human primate model of depressive-like behavior." Front Behav Neurosci 16: 901425.

Gattuso, J. J., D. Perkins, S. Ruffell, A. J. Lawrence, D. Hoyer, L. H. Jacobson, C. Timmermann, D. Castle, S. L. Rossell, L. A. Downey, B. A. Pagni, N. L. Galvão-Coelho, D. Nutt and J. Sarris (2022). "Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review." International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology: pyac074.

Perkins, D., V. Schubert, H. Simonova, L. F. Tofoli, J. C. Bouso, M. Horak, N. L. Galvao-Coelho and J. Sarris (2021). "Influence of Context and Setting on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes of Ayahuasca Drinkers: Results of a Large International Survey." Front Pharmacol 12(469): 623979.