Center for the Science of Psychedelics

The UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP) is an academic center focused on advancing psychedelic research for the public good. The BCSP was founded in September 2020 by a multidisciplinary group of UC Berkeley faculty and is entirely funded through the generosity of donors. Housed within the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, the BCSP brings together faculty and researchers from across UC Berkeley. It serves as a leading, trusted source for scientific and interdisciplinary inquiry that informs knowledge and decision-making about psychedelics. BCSP also funds five fellowship programs that create opportunities for early-career researchers, journalists, documentary filmmakers, scholars, and creators.

BCSP envisions a world in which progress in psychedelic research, public education, policy, and practice leads to improvements in health and well-being. Leveraging UC Berkeley’s strengths, the BCSP has four pillars of work that advance its vision and mission:

• Basic Science: Through basic science research, the BCSP obtains insights into how brain function is affected by psychedelics, including the relationships among the brain, the mind, emotion, and consciousness. It brings together and funds researchers from neuroscience, molecular biology, psychology, genetics, and other scientific fields to explore the fundamental properties of psychedelics and their effects.
• Journalism: The BCSP is a trusted source for credible journalism that sheds light on the complexities of psychedelic research, culture, business, and policy. It provides independent, evidence-based, and accessible knowledge to engage the public on a wide range of issues related to psychedelics, and its journalism informs policymakers and decision-makers at all levels.
• Applied Research and Policy: The BCSP creates and shares rigorous, accessible, and relevant applied psychedelics research and policy development work, particularly for decision-makers at the state and local levels. It draws upon a range of interdisciplinary expertise and knowledge—including public policy, public health, and economics—focused on applying knowledge to solve complex societal problems related to the accessibility and administration of psychedelics.
• Culture and Community: The BCSP actively educates and connects people from all walks of life through its programs, events, courses, and communication channels, which serve as a vital resource for knowledge about psychedelics. The BCSP’s Culture and Community programming sparks conversations and provides a deeper understanding of the science, policy, business, art, history, and culture of psychedelics, building the field for the long-term.

In all it does, the BCSP is guided by the following values and principles: acting with integrity and transparency, conducting rigorous research, serving as responsible stewards of public resources, embodying equity and reciprocity, and approaching the work with curiosity.