Tel Aviv University

The Institute for Integrative Psychedelic Research at Tel Aviv University (IPR-TLV) aims to revolutionize mental health through the interdisciplinary study of psychedelics. As the first institute of its kind in Israel, IPR-TLV is committed to becoming a world leader in the neuroscientific investigation of psychedelics and psychoactive medicine, focusing on the complex interplay between the brain, mind, and body.

The center’s primary objectives are threefold. First, it seeks to promote a biopsychosocial model of health and well-being, emphasizing the role of psychedelics in studying the link between neural, psychological, and social factors. Second, IPR-TLV aims to foster interdisciplinary research on the brain-mind-body interplay, encouraging joint projects that explore the neurobiology and neural correlates of consciousness, subjective experiences, and emotions through pharmacologically induced states and neuroplasticity. Finally, the institute strives to encourage scientific and clinical collaborations, promoting joint projects that translate experimental insights into daily clinical use, thus advancing the immense potential of psychoactive medicine.

Tel Aviv University’s psychedelic research program is currently conducting two groundbreaking studies. The first study examines the effectiveness and safety of psilocybin as an oral treatment, at sub-hallucinogenic doses, for patients with kinesiophobia, or fear of movement. This study utilizes Gaga, an innovative movement language developed by acclaimed choreographer Ohad Naharin, alongside psychophysical measures and advanced functional brain imaging to investigate the effects of psilocybin on motor learning among patients suffering from kinesiophobia due to chronic pain.

The second study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and conducted in collaboration with Prof. Harpaz-Rotem from Yale University, assesses the effects of ketamine and mass exposure therapy on original trauma memories and their reconsolidation among patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By utilizing state-of-the-art neuroimaging, the researchers aim to gain further insight into the neurobiology of PTSD and the neural mechanisms dictating treatment response. The results of this project have the potential to produce a rapid and sustained reduction in PTSD symptomatology that is superior to currently available interventions.

Through these innovative research projects and its commitment to advancing the understanding of psychedelics and psychoactive medicine, the Institute for Integrative Psychedelic Research at Tel Aviv University is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the field of mental health and revolutionize the way we approach the treatment of various psychological conditions.