COST Action CA24130 “Psychedelic renaissance: turn on, tune in and drop in” has officially started on 30 October 2025, marking a historic milestone in European psychedelic research. The network brings together researchers from over 40 countries to advance psychedelic science for mental health.
A Growing Movement in Mental Health Research
Given the current stagnation in developing new treatments based on traditional drugs and mechanisms in the neurosciences, the resurgence of psychedelics has opened up a new, rapidly expanding field of research into consciousness, mental disorders and their treatment.
Psilocybin, LSD, DMT or MDMA have already shown efficacy in the treatment of depression, anxiety and addiction. Recent advances in neuroimaging have made it possible to understand in detail the processes behind their unique effects, and groundbreaking discoveries about the therapeutic effects of psychedelics are finding their way into the world’s most prestigious journals.
The aim is to create a platform for psychedelic research that will pave the way for the submission of large collaborative research projects, multicentre academic clinical trials at European level, and open access data sharing.
The Need for European Coordination
Despite the rapid progress, academic psychedelic research still suffers greatly from a lack of coordination at the international level. Key areas requiring better coordination include:
- Developing new molecules and formulations with therapeutic potential
- Understanding the underlying neurobiology from the molecular level to neuroimaging
- Conducting multicentre academic clinical trials across European institutions
- Sharing and standardising data to generate big data for more robust analyses
Six Working Groups, One Mission
PSY-NET has established six specialized working groups covering the full spectrum of psychedelic research:
- Chemistry & Biophysics — Development of new molecules, analytical chemistry, and biophysical characterization
- Preclinical Research — Understanding neurobiology, developing animal models, and establishing safety profiles
- Clinical — Coordinating multicentre academic clinical trials and treatment protocols
- Advances in NeuroImaging — Leveraging cutting-edge techniques to understand neural mechanisms
- Data Sharing & Databases — Creating open access platforms and standardizing data collection
- Policy Making — Working with regulatory authorities on reclassification and evidence-based policy
Looking Ahead
The PSY-NET Action will run until October 2029, providing four years of dedicated networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange. The first annual meeting is being planned, where all Working Group members and stakeholders will come together to set the research agenda and establish collaborative partnerships.
Researchers interested in joining the network can apply through the official COST Action page. The network is open to researchers from COST Member Countries and Cooperating Members, with a particular focus on supporting early-career investigators.
