Canada to Fund Research on Psilocybin for Substance Use Disorder

published on May 3, 2022 by Ritika Dubey in Filter

Applications have opened for Canadian researchers seeking federal funding to study psilocybin treatments for substance use disorder (SUD), as well as for depression and end-of-life distress. The grants mark the first time federal funding has been provided for psilocybin studies of this kind.

“Psychedelics can provide a forum for people to address root causes.”

The Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), a federal agency, will provide CA$3 million to fund three grant recipients and support their proposals through phase 1 or 2 clinical trials, one of which will focus on SUD.

“This funding will support clinical trials to generate evidence on the therapeutic efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for substance use disorder, Major Depressive Disorder or treatment resistant depression, and end-of-life psychological distress in patients with advanced-stage cancer, which is needed to inform clinical and regulatory policies,” a CIHR spokesperson told Filter…