Want To Join a Psychedelic Clinical Trial or Study? Here’s What You Need to Know

• By Zeus Tipado
• March 2, 2023July 4, 2026
• psychedelic studies psychedelic therapy psychedelics
• With 1 comment

Last reviewed and updated: July 4, 2026.

Key Takeaways

The only legal way to obtain free psychedelics and get paid is by participating in a psychedelic clinical trial or study — also known as the greatest lifehack in the history of humanity.

However, there are other things to consider as well — like, is it worth donating your brain to science in exchange for a free psychedelic trip?

Coming from a neuroscientist, the answer to that question is always an emphatic ‘yes’!

But before signing your name on the dotted line, there’s some vital information you should know before getting an intravenous dose of DMT and taking a trip to the Alpha Centauri galaxy.

Interested in joining a Psychedelics Clinical Trial? Sign up here now and we will connect you with a clinical trial in your area when one becomes available.

How Is Psychedelic Research Funded?

All modern psychedelic research is generally categorized by university-led psychedelic research and pharmaceutical-led psychedelic research. Whereas the latter is mostly research organized and conducted by a company looking to build or further-develop a patented psychedelic or process, university-led research has a “wide latitude of freedom”. This means there’s generally a strong opportunity to do varying doses of psychedelics in interesting scenarios.

It’s important to note that, in some university-led research, funding for these psychedelic studies may come directly from pharmaceutical and psychedelic companies. While this may seem nefarious on the surface, quite often, these companies don’t have access to psychedelic laboratories and experienced psychopharmacologists, psychologists, and neuroscientists.

To show the efficacy of certain psychedelics they may be looking to market, produce, or use in a therapeutic context, they turn to experienced university-led laboratories. It’s how a lot of psychedelic science gets done — studies often run into the six and seven-figure range, and that money has to come from somewhere.

Where Does Psychedelic Research Funding Come From?

Funding for psychedelic research also comes in the form of non-profit foundations. These foundations often have somewhat noble causes — like spreading the awareness of psychedelics to the general population, or promoting wide-scale legality.

Donations to these foundations may be crowdsourced from individuals across the world in small amounts. However, large, substantial donations often originate from wealthy people that may serve as executives or owners in companies.

Essentially, we must confront the uncomfortable reality that, if we take corporate money out of psychedelics, then we also hinder the progression of psychedelic science.

I wish this weren’t the case, and that more university-led research can be sourced from the donations of people eager to see potential advancements in psychedelic science. That may well be a model in the future. However, in our current reality and the psychedelic landscape, this is simply not the case.

Types Of Psychedelic Research

Let’s get back to that idea of a “wide latitude of freedom”. The freedom innate within academic institutions originates from the pursuit of furthering science. While some university-led psychedelic studies may be funded by companies or foundations, universities are not beholden to produce a desired outcome.

Quite often, university-led research is designed to investigate fundamental things about the psychedelic experience. These include things like hemodynamic response (how blood moves in the brain). As well as cognitive studies to see how behavior, mood, or motor responses are affected by psychedelics.

On the surface, these pursuits seem to be pretty docile. For example, why would anyone care if a person can tap their fingers slower or faster while on psychedelics?

However, these scientific studies are necessary to reveal precisely how psychedelics exerts its effect on the body and brain.

Think of university-led psychedelic research as building blocks. In order to assemble a larger, more substantial structure, many of these blocks (or studies), must be conducted. As with all structures, the foundation of these blocks must be strong, ensuring the structure won’t unexpectedly collapse. That’s why academic research is rigorously peer-reviewed by scientists at other academic institutions.

What To Expect As A Participant Of A Psychedelic Study

One may think signing up for a psychedelic study means you’re going to be dropping tabs of LSD and dancing to SkySky all night. While that may be true (depending on which study you get selected for), psychedelic research often involves a lot of paperwork. More than you can imagine.

Just signing up for a study doesn’t guarantee you a spot. Most studies are looking for a specific population of people measured by factors that aren’t necessarily disclosed to the potential participant. By not explicitly telling eager participants what the study is looking for, it prevents people from lying or stretching the truth just to be a part of the research.

If you make it through this process, then you most likely move to another qualifying step — one of general health.

Who’s Best Suited for These Clinical Trials and Studies?

There are a handful of studies looking for people with conditions like treatment-resistant depression. However, the majority of psychedelic research is focused on what we call “healthy individuals.” This means no cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, or general cognitive conditions that a person may receive treatment or medication for.

Granted, this is a very broad generalization of the human condition. But this is required for psychedelic clinical trials and studies, mostly for two reasons.

The first of which, psychedelics may have detrimental effects when combined with medication or other health conditions. The second reason is that the data obtained from psychedelic studies must be applied to the general population. In science, we’re going under the assumption that this general population is “healthy”.

If you do manage to navigate through this labyrinth of paperwork and consent forms (which are documents that grant the researcher access to yourself), then you may find yourself as an active subject in a psychedelic experiment. But there’s still a chance that you may actually not receive psychedelics.

Psychedelic Clinical Trials Placebo vs The Real Thing

Nearly all psychedelic research is “placebo-controlled”. This means the researcher is administering psychedelics along with a form of placebo. Which is a substance that mimics, but not entirely fulfills, the perceptual alterations of a psychedelic. These are called “active placebos” and they involve certain physiological alterations (like the flushing of skin). But not the perceptual modulations of an actual psychedelic.

The reason for placebos is so that the subject (and sometimes the researcher) does not know they are taking a psychedelic in order to prevent things like expectancy effect. This prevents affecting the results of the study.

There are other tests you may have to undergo. One example is the fNIR scans, which use the power of magnetism to analyze regions of your brain. Also, extracting blood to test for things like brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF can happen.

There’s also a multitude of biological, neurological, and cognitive tests that one must undergo to fulfill a psychedelic study. And it takes time. Be prepared to spend long days in the lab, often waiting for hours before you start dosing psychedelics.

Where To Sign Up For A Psychedelic Clinical Trial or Study

Finally, the part you all wanted: Exactly how to be a part of these exciting, groundbreaking university-led psychedelic studies. Well, if you’re in Europe, then you have a few choices. However, if you’re U.S.-based, your options are limited to just one institution.

Interested in joining a Psychedelics Clinical Trial? Sign up here now and we will connect you with a clinical trial in your area when one becomes available.

While there are other U.S. universities that sparingly conduct research, for this article, we’re focusing on the most notable one — Johns Hopkins University.

Johns Hopkins University

While there may be some emerging U.S. academic institutions dabbling in psychedelic research, Johns Hopkins is undoubtedly the leader in the States. World-class studies have emerged from this lab over the years. Mainly led by the likes of Manoj Doss and Frederick Barrett. As of recently, Johns Hopkins has focused on revealing the interaction humans have with psilocybin.

Follow this link to be a part of upcoming psychedelic research from Johns Hopkins.

Maastricht University

Want to be a participant in my psychedelic research? Then look no further than the Netherlands’ Maastricht University. This is the institution where all of my DMT x XR research takes place. And I can’t think of a better spot to have scientists look at your brain and behavior while on psychedelics.

Led by Jan Raemaekers and Kim Kuypers, Maastricht’s research ranges from studies like couples taking LSD together, to using LSD to increase pain thresholds. To discover all of Maastricht University’s available psychedelic research opportunities, visit here.

University of Zurich

When it comes to extremely fun and innovative psychedelic research, the University of Zurich is one of my favorite institutions to follow. The work by Katrin Preller is some of the most interesting science I’ve read. And other scientists in her lab are pushing the bar on what’s possible. Want to be a part of the action? Check their official site for details on how to participate in a psychedelic study.

Imperial College London

Perhaps the most popular academic institution conducting psychedelic research — mostly due to Robin Carhart-Harris‘ groundbreaking work in neuroimaging for the past decade — is Imperial College London.

With a long track record for producing highly interesting work in the psychedelic science field, studies are being conducted year-around. If you would like to participate, check out their official psychedelic laboratory page.

Still looking for more places to be a subject in a psychedelic study that weren’t mentioned here? Visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search for your psychedelic of choice — there may be a study being conducted near you.

2026 Update

The psychedelic clinical trial landscape shifted dramatically in 2025 and 2026. After the FDA rejected MDMA therapy in 2024 citing methodology concerns — not efficacy — researchers pivoted resources toward psilocybin and LSD. Definium Therapeutics (DFTX) completed a successful Phase 3 trial of its LSD compound DT120 in June 2026, making it the largest-ever psychedelic Phase 3 study. Compass Pathways submitted a rolling New Drug Application for COMP360 psilocybin in 2025, with a potential FDA decision expected in 2027. As of mid-2026, over 400 psychedelic clinical trials are active on ClinicalTrials.gov.

President Trump’s April 2026 Executive Order on psychedelics created new pathways for veterans to access experimental treatments through the VA, significantly expanding the pool of available trial participants and institutional resources. For civilians, most trials remain accessible through university medical centers and specialized research sites. The pre-screening process has become more streamlined — many sites now use online questionnaires to assess eligibility before scheduling an in-person visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a psychedelic clinical trial near me?

Search ClinicalTrials.gov with keywords like “psilocybin,” “ketamine,” or “MDMA” and filter by your state or proximity. Many university medical centers — including Johns Hopkins, NYU, and Mount Sinai — run ongoing trials. HealingMaps also maintains a pre-screening questionnaire to help assess eligibility before you contact a trial coordinator.

Do psychedelic clinical trial participants get paid?

Most trials offer compensation ranging from $50 to $300 per session, plus reimbursement for travel. Some trials cover all treatment costs including therapy sessions. Payment varies by institution and phase — Phase 1 safety trials may pay more than Phase 3 efficacy trials.

What conditions are most commonly studied in psychedelic trials?

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), PTSD, end-of-life anxiety, and alcohol/substance use disorders are the most common indications. As of 2026, psilocybin trials for OCD, Parkinson’s, and eating disorders have also entered Phase 2.

Are psychedelic clinical trials safe?

Trials are conducted under strict protocols with medical supervision, psychological screening, and integration support. Serious adverse events are rare. The main risks are psychological — difficult experiences during sessions — which trained therapists are present to manage. Most participants describe the experience as intense but ultimately positive.

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