OPEN FOUNDATION News & BLOGs

The OPEN Foundation is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated 6th edition of the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research – Europe’s leading academic gathering dedicated to advancing psychedelic research and therapies. At ICPR 2024, we aim to bridge and connect these disciplines, and to facilitate an important dialogue between the diverse academic fields and researchers involved in advancing psychedelic research and therapies.

During the last week of August, OPEN facilitated the ‘Substance, Set and Setting’ workshop. More than fifty researchers and practitioners from the field of psychedelic science and therapy convened for five intensive days to discuss the entanglement of ‘substance, set and setting’, aiming to create new research models and guidelines to further understanding of how non-pharmacological factors affect the psychedelic experience.

Let’s wear our preclinical researcher’s hats for a minute and suppose we forget about the BDNF receptors, intracellular 5-HT2ARs, and the reopening of critical periods. In that case, one thing is clear about classic psychedelics: neuronal surface 5-HT2ARs are the doors of hallucinations. Welp… guess what! The story is not that simple!

Set and setting are deemed essential in preparation and facilitating therapeutic outcome in the landscape of psychedelic-assisted therapy. But what about potential environmental influences from the past, a phenomenon also referred to as ‘imprinting’?

Presenting a comprehensive study comparing psychedelics, meditation, and hypnosis, shedding light on their therapeutic applications in treating psychiatric disorders. Gain insights into the mind’s enigmatic experiences and potential future breakthroughs.

On June 23rd, 2023, the FDA made history in the psychedelics space by presenting its first-ever recommendations and considerations for executing clinical trials involving psychedelic drugs. With the growing popularity and research in this field, it’s a significant step forward in governmental institutions recognizing the potential of these substances.

Last week, OPEN executive director Joost Breeksema and OPEN board members Michiel van Elk and Patricia Posters gave lectures during the second edition of the Summer School on Psychedelic Research in Groningen, which was co-organised the OPEN Foundation.

The chronicles of the psychedelic renaissance continue as Ernst Kuipers responds to a recent report regarding its potential therapeutic use. This article provides a brief recap of the past year and summarizes Kuipers’ response that could provide a glimpse of what the future of psychedelic-assisted therapy and research in the Netherlands is going to look like.

From April 20th to 22nd, 2023, Breaking Convention convened in Exeter, United Kingdom. A mix of psychonauts, researchers, and psychedelic curious gathered to discuss the latest research, showcase psychedelic art, and exchange views in this blossoming field.