Why is Citizen Science so relevant to the field of psychedelic research?

---

It is easy to forget that we are, in the words of Amanda Feilding, at the very foothills of understanding the effects of psychedelics, and there is widespread eagerness to reach the summit. This is slow-going, however, and Citizen Science constitutes an important approach, complementary to lab-based/clinical research to ascend further in our knowledge of these compounds and how best to use them.

We are working on the development of a remote research platform that will leverage mobile technology via apps and the rapidly growing capacity to securely collect data through connected devices, with the goal of allowing research participants to perform surveys and assessments on their own, without having to physically attend a scientific laboratory or clinic. This is particularly important as COVID-19 and ongoing measures to combat its spread have provided further reason to take a step back from lab-based studies. This approach offers many advantages:

• Access to a much greater number of participants
• Learning from individuals’ existing experience and knowledge of these compounds
• ‘Real-life’ set and setting rather than standardized laboratory conditions
• Lower cost

Our collaboration with Quantified Citizen

At the Beckley Foundation, we are convinced of the value of a ‘grassroots’ approach to psychedelic research. We have started a collaboration with the Psychedelic Data Society (the not-profit branch of Quantified Citizen), a mobile health research platform specialised in Citizen Science, alongside Paul Stamets, Pam Kryskow, Kim Kuypers, Zach Walsh and other researchers from the University of British Columbia and Maastricht University, in what will most likely be the largest microdosing study to date.

Nested within this large research project, Amanda Feilding has worked with collaborators in relevant fields to develop more targeted studies focusing on specific uses of microdosing.

Two of these studies will be open for participation very soon (see below)

Current research projects

(1) Microdosing and meditation study

Does the practice of meditation influence the psychedelic experience? And does the use of psychedelics influence meditation practice? In this new study, we will explore the effects of microdosing on meditation practice by remotely collecting data in meditation practitioners.

We are now recruiting participants for this study, find our more here.

(2) Micro-Macro-pain study

Do chronic pain sufferers experience noticeable benefits from regular microdosing and/or from the occasional use of large doses of psychedelics? This study will collect data from chronic sufferers in order to guide the development of clinical research.

(3) Microdose.me

Powered by Quantified Citizen, this world’s first mobile microdosing study is gathering knowledge on a wide range of microdosing practices and how they affect mental health, cognitive performance, and more. Additional information can be found on Microdose.me. You can also read about Microdose.me latest study results here.

 

Past research projects

• Citizen self-blinding microdosing research