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| MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Rick Doblin |
| Headquarters | Santa Cruz, California |
| Focus | Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, psychedelic research, drug policy reform |
MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) is a nonprofit research and educational organization founded in 1986 that supports scientific studies of psychedelic substances and cannabis for therapeutic uses. It funds clinical trials, trains therapists, and engages in policy advocacy aimed at rescheduling and medical access for compounds such as MDMA and psilocybin. MAPS operates within a network of academic institutions, biotechnology companies, and advocacy groups to advance regulatory approval and integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Founded in 1986 by Rick Doblin, the organization began amid debates following the Controlled Substances Act and the end of the 1970s psychedelic movement. Early activities connected with researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, and University of California, San Francisco while engaging with figures from the Beat Generation era and later proponents like Timothy Leary. MAPS broadened from funding small-scale studies to sponsoring pivotal Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials, coordinating with regulators such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and agencies in Switzerland and Israel. Throughout its history MAPS has intersected with landmark events including shifts in policy influenced by groups like Drug Policy Alliance and ballot initiatives in Oregon and Colorado.
MAPS states its mission to develop medical, legal, and cultural contexts for safe, effective use of psychedelics and marijuana. The organization's governance includes a board featuring advocates and scientists who have worked with institutions such as Imperial College London, Yale University, and Mount Sinai Health System. Operational arms include a clinical research division, a training institute that certifies therapists, and a public education unit that collaborates with venues like The New York Times symposiums and conferences at South by Southwest and World Economic Forum panels. MAPS works with regulatory bodies including the European Medicines Agency and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration when pursuing approvals.
MAPS has sponsored clinical trials investigating MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in partnership with academic centers including UCLA, Massachusetts General Hospital, and University of Southern California. Trials have proceeded through Phase 2 and Phase 3 stages, with data reviewed by panels that include experts from American Psychiatric Association committees and reviewers formerly affiliated with National Institutes of Health. MAPS-supported studies have examined comorbidities in populations linked to events such as the September 11 attacks, veterans from the Iraq War and Afghanistan War, and survivors of incidents tied to Hurricane Katrina and Haiti earthquake. The organization has also facilitated research on MDMA manufacturing standards in collaboration with biotech entities and GMP facilities, engaging intellectual property considerations encountered by firms like Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly in adjacent therapeutic markets.
MAPS conducts advocacy aimed at rescheduling psychedelic substances, liaising with policymakers in legislatures such as the United States Congress and ballot campaigns in states like Oregon and California. It has coordinated with advocacy organizations including Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (foundation partners), Drug Policy Alliance, and international NGOs active in countries like Canada and Portugal. MAPS has provided expert testimony before bodies including committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and panels at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, engaging with treaties such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and debates influenced by reports from the World Health Organization.
MAPS publishes protocol manuals, white papers, and training curricula used by clinicians and researchers at centers like Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College London, and Columbia University. It maintains an online library of study data, case reports, and historical analyses engaging scholarship from authors affiliated with Oxford University Press and journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet Psychiatry. MAPS organizes conferences and webinars that have featured speakers from institutions including Stanford University, Harvard Medical School, and Yale School of Medicine, and collaborates with media outlets like The New Yorker and The Atlantic on public education campaigns.
Funding for MAPS has come from philanthropic donors, private foundations, and public fundraising campaigns that have drawn support from individuals associated with firms like Thrive Capital and entities in the venture philanthropy space. MAPS has partnered with research institutions including Johns Hopkins University, contract research organizations, and manufacturing partners to ensure GMP-grade production. Strategic partnerships have included collaborations with biotech startups, law firms advising on regulatory strategy, and international research groups at universities such as Karolinska Institutet and University of Melbourne.
MAPS has faced criticism related to fundraising practices, clinical trial design, and conflicts of interest alleged by commentators linked to outlets like ProPublica and academics from Columbia University and McGill University. Some critics from institutions such as Yale University and King's College London have questioned aspects of trial blinding and placebo controls, while ethicists connected to Oxford University and University of Toronto have raised concerns about therapist training and long-term follow-up. Debates involving regulatory transparency have involved interactions with agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and media coverage across The Washington Post and BBC News.
Category:Psychedelic research organizations