Conference Description
The Neurobiology of Psychedelics GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
The conference will bring together scientists who explore the fundamental neurobiology, including molecular, cellular and behavioral aspects, of psychedelics and related psychoactive compounds. These comprise classic psychedelics, which are primarily 5-HT2A receptor agonists such as LSD, psilocybin, and DMT, entactogens such as MDMA, and dissociatives such as ketamine and ibogaine. In humans, these compounds acutely influence sensory perception, alter sensitivity to environmental stimuli, and change mood and cognition. In laboratory animals, profound effects on brain state and behavior have been demonstrated. Over a longer timescale, many of these compounds are reported to produce beneficial effects for a range of mental illnesses. These acute and enduring effects are presumably underpinned by psychedelics’ unique effects on molecular signaling, synaptic plasticity, and neural dynamics across local or distributed brain networks, which are likely shared across species. The scope of the conference includes molecular mechanisms of psychedelic compounds, effects on sensory, cognitive, and behavioral functions, changes in functional and structural neural plasticity, animal models relevant for understanding psychedelic drug action, cortical and subcortical neural dynamics, psychopharmacology, translational and clinical studies, and new avenues for drug development.
The conference will consist of nine sessions, on the topics listed below. The conference chair is currently developing their preliminary program, which will include the names of the invited speakers and discussion leaders for each of these sessions. The preliminary program will be available by October 16, 2024. Please check back for updates.