The Faculty of Health Sciences has announced that it will create a research collaborative to serve as an interdisciplinary space for research, innovation and knowledge translation in the field of psychedelics. Focused on research, education and policy, the collaborative will be a space to connect expertise across campus and stakeholders and partners in the broader community. The launch of the psychedelics research collaborative is enabled by a donation of $1 million from the Dimensions Health Fund in support of the Study of Psychedelics.
“The study of psychedelics is an important and emerging area of research and policy in Canada,” said Jane Philpott. “As we look to the critical need for further research, education, and knowledge translation, researchers in Canada’s post-secondary institutions have an important role to play, and the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University has positioned itself at the forefront.”
The collaborative will take a multi-pronged approach to supporting research and innovation in psychedelic-focused therapies. Among it’s priorities are to further existing research, broaden the scope of psychedelic-assisted therapies, build awaress of the healing potential of psychedelics, and support early entry of these therapies into the scientific and regulatory landscape.
In addition, the collaborative will work to lay a foundation for the development of policy that is ethical and evidence-informed. It will support training, education, and knowledge translation for healthcare providers, and aid in the development of best practice standards to ensure the safety, quality, and effectiveness of therapies, helping to ensure the sector’s long-term growth and sustainability.
The collaborative will be aligned with Faculty of Health Sciences’ commitment to supporting Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) learners, staff and faculty, and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiative, launched in the fall of 2020.
Founded in Toronto in 2021, the Dimensions Health Fund was established by Dimensions Health Centres. Integrating the latest developments in neuroscience and neurobiology to create a revolutionary approach to mental health and well-being, Dimensions Health Centres provides immersive, psychedelic and psychedelic-inspired nature retreats for education and transformational healing. Dimensions will act as a founding partner of the Psychedelics Research Collaborative in the Faculty of Health Sciences.