Dr. Suresh Muthukumaraswamy completed his PhD in Psychology at the University of Auckland in 2005, after which he joined the newly established Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre as a postdoctoral fellow.
While at Cardiff, he started research work with psychedelics in 2011 in collaboration with Professor David Nutt and Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, investigating the neuroimaging correlates of the psychedelic drugs psilocybin and LSD.
The Ketamine drug
- Researching the different classes of drugs, their receptor binding, and the effects they have on different conditions can be beneficial in understanding them better.
- Ketamine has a range of effects on the brain and can cause a long-lasting switch from depression to non-depression, prompting research into its effects and causes.
- Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is a powerful tool for helping people with depression and is an area of research that is only just beginning.
Get going with microdosing with caution
- To ensure safety, focus on the few substances that have been studied the most, like ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin, before moving on to others.
- Psychedelic research has the potential for great benefit but must be approached with caution, fairness, and inclusion to make a positive difference.
- To stay ahead of the curve in the health sciences field, students should pursue a university degree in medicine, psychology, or medical science, have a strong background in mathematics and research, understand intellectual property battles, and consider pre-registration protocols.
Considering the financial and social implications of microdosing
- It is important to consider the financial and social implications of microdosing.
- There are potential risks associated with it that should be considered, such as the onset of psychosis for those with severe mental health disorders.
- Legal ramifications are also key to consider, as are purity and dosing.
- Open science, or the publishing of data to the world, is admirable but not always possible.
- It is important to be aware of the risks and to tread carefully and cautiously.
Innovation at New Zealand
- New Zealand’s regulations allow for clinical trials on class A substances like LSD and are fostering scientific and research innovation in the field of psychedelic medicine.
- New Zealand has the potential to foster innovation in mental health research through specific funding, taking advantage of its excellent research faculties.
- New Zealand has a rich biomedical tradition, and researchers are making strides in preterm baby care, stroke recovery research, and exploring the therapeutic effects of ketamine and its analogs.
Microdosing LSD
- Psychedelics may be useful for treating various mental health conditions, and combining them with psychotherapy may be particularly effective.
- Microdosing LSD provides an effective way to study the psychological effects of psychoactive substances, as it can control the placebo effect and provide ambiguous information to participants.
- Philanthropic support is an important part of advancing mental health research, leading to life-changing results and a better future.
