The Psychedelic Symposium

The Psychedelic Symposium is a bimonthly gathering of leading thinkers, researchers, and

explorers in the psychedelic space. Each event dives deep into the science and

stories behind psychedelics, covering everything from anthropology and history to

neuroscience and clinical practice.

Hosted by neuropsychopharmacologist Rebecca Harding, this series brings you into

the heart of psychedelic research, featuring thought-provoking talks and lively

discussion with some of the UK’s leading psychedelic scientists.

This session will explore:

Magic Mushrooms, Messy Politics

Psychedelics are making headlines as breakthrough treatments for mental health conditions, yet they remain tightly controlled and largely illegal even in medical contexts. Why? This talk explores how drug policy decisions are made in the UK, the hurdles psychedelic science faces, and what the recent FDA rejection of MDMA therapy tells us about the future. Along the way, we’ll untangle the mix of politics, stigma, and evidence that shapes whether, and when, psychedelics might finally move from the underground to the mainstream.

The Future of Research and Development: Whats next to go from clinical research to clinical practice

Psychedelic medicine is experiencing a scientific renaissance, with promising clinical trials showing remarkable results for depression, PTSD, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety. But how do these breakthrough therapies actually make it from research labs to real patient care in the UK? This talk explores the unique journey of psychedelic-assisted treatments through the clinical development pipeline, examining the regulatory pathways, NHS integration challenges, and innovative therapeutic protocols being established to bring substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine into mainstream British healthcare. We'll discuss the most advanced clinical trials happening in the UK and internationally, the therapy models being developed for safe delivery, and what the next few years hold as these treatments move toward approval and potential NHS availability.

Speakers:

Rebecca Harding, PhD (c)

Rebecca Harding is a neuropsychopharmacologist at University College London. With a background in brain imaging, Rebecca’s work aims to uncover the brain mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Before beginning her PhD, Rebecca completed an MSc at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London and went on to work as a research scientist in the psychedelic pharmaceutical industry

Henry Fisher, PhD

Dr Henry Fisher is Chief Scientific Officer at Clerkenwell Health, a clinical research organisation running clinical trials for psychedelic drug developers. Dr Fisher was previously Health Policy Director at the drug policy think tank Volteface, Senior Chemist at The Loop, and Communications Officer at the Beckley Foundation.

Alex Piot, PhD (c)

Alex Piot is a PhD student at UCL’s Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit and Director of Research at the Centre for Evidence-Based Drug Policy. For the past three years in his role at the Centre he has been actively advocating for more effective and equitable drug policy. His work at the Centre focuses on reducing the harms associated with prohibition and strengthening drug policy governance in the UK.