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The BEAR Lab at ASU studies the effects of psychedelics and other mind-altering substances on epigenetics, brain and behavior. While recent clinical trials demonstrate promising results in the effectiveness in treating post-traumatic stress disorder with MDMA and depression with psilocybin, there is still so many important questions to be answered!

With our collaborators, The BEAR Lab was first to publish a preliminary study showing epigenetic correlates of MDMA-treatment response to PTSD. We wish to continue this important line of research with bigger sample sizes, more diverse patient populations and with different substances and other disorders.

The BEAR Lab is also interested in studying how psychedelic experiences may improve sub-clinical behaviors, such as daily function, wellness, focus, cognition and memory, creativity, spirituality, chronic pain, migraines and so much more.

The BEAR Lab is actively working towards public education of mental health, accurate information about psychoactive substances, epigenetics and mental health, and the wide spread of effects of trauma on health and development.

Currently, it is difficult to obtain federal funding for psychedelic studies or education due to their illegal status at the federal level. Private donations to incredible research groups such as the Heffter Research Institute, MAPS, Johns Hopkins and New York University have almost exclusively funded the modern era of psychedelic research. A contribution to The BEAR Lab will directly help push this field forward.