In a new brain-imaging study, UK researchers will explore how DMT impacts brain function, behaviour and well-being.
Researchers at University College London are investigating how the psychedelic drug, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) affects the brain and behaviour.
The Understanding Neuroplasticity Induced by Tryptamines (UNITy) Project is a longitudinal brain-imaging study being conducted by the UCL department of Psychology and Language Science, which seeks to provide a mechanistic understanding of how DMT impacts brain function, behaviour and well-being.
The study will use Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to image the brain before, during and after a DMT or placebo infusion. Follow-ups with study participants will occur for up to nine months.
Small Pharma, a biotechnology company focused on short-acting psychedelic-assisted therapies for mental health conditions, will provide its drug candidate SPL026 for the study to explore induced brain changes and neuroplasticity following intravenous DMT.
SPL026 is an intravenous formulation of the psychedelic drug N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
“We are grateful that Small Pharma is providing its drug candidate, SPL026, to the UNITy Project,” said Dr Ravi Das, associate Professor at University College London and Principal Investigator on the project.
“There is an urgent need for new, effective and lasting mental health treatments. While previous clinical research into psychedelics has been promising, there is a lack of mechanism-focused, well-controlled research into how, why and in whom these drugs work.
“We expect that this project will take major steps forward in progressing our understanding of how DMT affects the brain and behaviour.”
Dr Carol Routledge, chief medical and scientific officer at Small Pharma, added: “Driving forward scientific research and excellence is really important to Small Pharma, so we are delighted to support UCL on this large-scale neuroimaging study.
“We hope the findings will provide us with an increased understanding of the mechanistic effects of DMT in the brain, as well as which patient populations could benefit most from DMT-based therapies.”
