Every OOTW Journal article is grounded in primary peer-reviewed work by these scientists — the architects of modern psychedelic medicine. Every claim links directly to the original study.
Robin Carhart-Harris
Neuroscape Lab · UCSF
Previously: Imperial College London
The most cited psychedelic neuroscientist alive. Developed the Entropic Brain Hypothesis, REBUS model (Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics), and the first fMRI study of psilocybin's effect on the Default Mode Network. Led the landmark Imperial College psilocybin vs. escitalopram trial (NEJM 2021).
Key stat: Psilocybin produced greater well-being improvements vs. escitalopram on 6 of 7 secondary measures (Carhart-Harris et al., 2021, NEJM, PMID: 33852780)
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Matthew W. Johnson
Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry
Author of the most important smoking cessation study in history — 80% abstinence at 6-month follow-up with psilocybin vs. 13% for nicotine replacement therapy. A world authority on psychedelic safety, dosing protocols, and addiction. Co-authored the foundational psilocybin safety guidelines.
Key stat: 80% smoking abstinence at 6-month follow-up (Johnson et al., 2014, Psychopharmacology, PMID: 24663070) — vs. 13% NRT baseline
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Roland Griffiths
Johns Hopkins University (1944–2023)
Founding Director, Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research
The scientist who restarted modern psilocybin research. His 2006 paper in Psychopharmacology was the first rigorous human psilocybin trial in 40 years and remains the most cited in the field. Developed the MEQ30 (Mystical Experience Questionnaire) and demonstrated lasting personality change after a single session.
Key stat: 80% of cancer patients showed lasting clinically significant anxiety reduction at 6 months (Griffiths et al., 2016, J Psychopharmacology, PMID: 27909164)
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Michael Bogenschutz
NYU Langone Health
Professor of Psychiatry · Director, NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine
Principal investigator on the landmark NYU psilocybin alcohol use disorder trial — the largest randomized controlled trial of psilocybin for addiction at the time of publication. His 2022 NEJM paper showed 83% reduction in heavy drinking days vs. 23% placebo.
Key stat: 83% reduction in heavy drinking days vs. 23% placebo at 32 weeks (Bogenschutz et al., 2022, NEJM, PMID: 36170499)
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David Nutt
Imperial College London
Edmond J. Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology
One of the most outspoken and influential voices in psychedelic research and drug policy. Led the world's first neuroimaging study of LSD in humans. Expert in GABA, serotonin, and dopamine pharmacology. Former chief drug advisor to the UK government.
Key publication: LSD alters brain connectivity in ways associated with ego-dissolution (Nutt et al., 2016, PNAS, PMID: 26787015)
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James Fadiman
Sofia University · Transpersonal Research
Pioneer of LSD Creativity Research (1960s) · Microdosing Protocol Author
The godfather of microdosing. Conducted some of the first LSD creativity research in the 1960s, then pioneered the modern citizen science approach to microdosing via the Fadiman Protocol — 3 days on, 4 days off, journal daily. Author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide.
Key contribution: Designed and popularized the sub-perceptual microdosing protocol now used by hundreds of thousands globally. Largest naturalistic microdosing survey: 1,000+ self-reports showing improved mood, focus, and creativity.
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Balazs Szigeti
Columbia University · Previously Imperial College
Computational Neuroscience · Psychedelic Citizen Science
Led the world's first double-blind placebo-controlled microdosing trial — the Self-Blinding Citizen Science project (Imperial College, 2021). Participants self-blinded their own microdoses, eliminating expectancy bias. Found measurable psychological improvements with both microdoses and placebo, advancing the debate on expectancy effects.
Key publication: Self-blinding citizen science to explore psychedelic microdosing (Szigeti et al., 2021, eLife, PMID: 33759763) — first RCT of real-world microdosing
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Guy Goodwin
COMPASS Pathways
Chief Medical Officer · Previously University of Oxford
Principal investigator of the COMPASS COMP360 Phase IIb trial — the largest randomized controlled trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression to date (n=233, NEJM 2022). The trial established 25mg psilocybin as the candidate dose for Phase 3 development.
Key stat: 29% remission rate with COMP360 25mg vs. 8% placebo at 3 weeks (Goodwin et al., 2022, NEJM, PMID: 36322843)
Jennifer Mitchell
UCSF · MAPS Collaborative
Professor of Neurology · Principal MAPS PTSD Trial Investigator
Led the MAPS Phase 3 MDMA-assisted therapy trial for PTSD — the study that prompted the FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation. Her Nature Medicine paper showed 67% of participants no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria post-treatment. Expert in oxytocin, empathogen pharmacology, and social cognition.
Key stat: 67% no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria post-treatment vs. 32% placebo (Mitchell et al., 2021, Nature Medicine, PMID: 34290414)
Emmanuelle Schindler
Yale School of Medicine
Assistant Professor of Neurology · Headache Medicine
Pioneer of psilocybin research for cluster headaches — arguably the most painful medical condition known. Her Yale trial showed psilocybin reduced cluster headache attack frequency and duration in patients for whom all standard treatments had failed. Investigator in the first controlled cluster headache trial.
Key publication: Psilocybin for cluster headaches — first controlled clinical trial (Schindler et al., 2021, Neurology, PMID: 33563770)
David Olson
UC Davis
Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry · Olson Lab
Inventor of the "psychoplastogen" concept — psychedelic-inspired molecules that promote structural neuroplasticity without hallucinations. His 2018 Cell Reports paper showed psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and ibogaine all rapidly increase dendritic spine density and axonal density. Pioneer of next-generation psychedelic drug design.
Key stat: 200% increase in dendritic spine density after single psychedelic dose — psilocybin, LSD, DMT, ibogaine all promote structural plasticity (Ly et al., 2018, Cell Reports, PMID: 30007418)
Michael Pollan
Author · UC Berkeley Knight Program
Science Communication · Psychedelic History
Not a lab researcher but the single most important science communicator in the psychedelic field. His 2018 book How to Change Your Mind introduced psilocybin therapy to a mainstream audience and directly accelerated policy reform. Covered by OOTW Journal as the bridge between peer-reviewed science and public understanding.
Key contribution: How to Change Your Mind (2018) — brought psilocybin therapy from academic journals to the New York Times bestseller list and into mainstream policy debate
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