uniMIND Symposium “Synergies and Crossroads”: Exchange on psychedelic research projects
For the second time, the international academic network uniMIND is organizing a conference focusing on current research around psychedelic topics. The symposium will take place in Maastricht on April 9, 2022. This year’s cooperation partner is Maastricht University, one of the most renowned centers of psychedelic research worldwide.
The interest among students in the psychedelic research field continues to grow across disciplines such as psychology, medicine, neuroscience, philosophy, as well as anthropology, cultural and social sciences, worldwide and from year to year. What is “consciousness?” How exactly do mind-altering substances work? Are psychoactive substances the new hope in medicine? What do studies on the treatment of trauma, depression, and anxiety disorders using psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy look like? These are no longer marginal “niche” topics, but of growing interest among young academics and at universities in general. The annual conferences of the uniMIND network are an excellent opportunity for such international discourse. This year’s symposium, entitled “Synergies and Crossroads in Psychedelic Research and Therapy”, will again provide a platform for young academics to present data and projects. Expert will also be present to interact with young academics. The Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) of Maastricht University is an official co-organizer this year.
Dr. sc. hum. Henrik Jungaberle, Executive Director and founder of the MIND Foundation: “We are very pleased that the young network uniMIND has set up a second symposium, thus creating a basis for a worldwide academic exchange of students and junior researchers at European universities. Besides that, we are grateful to have Maastricht University as a cooperation partner for the event, and we hope that the network will continue to grow. For us, these young people are true pioneers because they are helping to shape the future. They are taking their academic future into their own hands and dedicate themselves to innovative research topics.”
Prof. Dr. Jan Ramaekers, Head of Dept Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University: „Maastricht University has been researching and teaching the impact of psychedelics on the brain and mental health for many years, which places us among the pioneering research centers in this field in Europe. This makes our university an excellent place for the uniMIND symposium. We are looking forward to a lively exchange between students and researchers as we believe that these young academics will play an essential role in future psychedelic research and therapeutic practice. All participants of the conference are becoming part of a worldwide network. This is of great value, especially for their own academic careers.”
The uniMIND Network: from an academic journal club to a worldwide platform
The uniMIND network came into being in 2018. Previously, Moad abd el Hay, a supporter of the MIND Foundation from the very beginning, had started a journal club at Heidelberg University focusing on psychedelic research and related topics. This gave the MIND Foundation the impetus to establish a journal club network. Its name: uniMIND. Unlike many conventional journal clubs, the uniMIND groups are multidisciplinary in composition.
Within three years, around 30 active groups have emerged on three continents, some of which consist of just a few members, others of up to 50 (e.g., Berlin or Cluj-Napoca). Currently, around 200 to 250 students and young academics are involved in the uniMIND groups at universities around the world. They are based in Canada (Victoria, British Columbia), the USA (Boston, Yale), Australia (Brisbane) and in many European cities (including London, Utrecht, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Brussels, Magdeburg, Leipzig, Heidelberg, Zurich, Barcelona, Krakow).
To the program of this year’s conference:
uniMIND Symposium 2022 Synergies & Crossroads – (mind-foundation.org)
https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/about-um-0
About the MIND Foundation
The MIND Foundation is a non-profit science and education organization. It advocates for the safe and legal use of the psychedelic experience in therapy and society. MIND trains physicians and psychotherapists in psychedelic therapy and is committed to providing high-quality, science-based education to the public.
Press contact: Dr. Gabriele Mittag; [email protected]
