Professor Michiel van Elk Awarded More Than $970,000 Grant to Study Psychedelics

I talked to him about his journey, the grant in question, and his hopes for the future of psychedelic science.

Prof. Michiel van Elk

While this year has been fraught with difficulty for many people, the psychedelic space has been flourishing. The first randomized controlled clinical trial using psilocybin for major depressive disorder was published (with impressive results); Canada approved 17 healthcare professionals to conduct psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy; and Oregon voted to decriminalize all drugs and legalize psilocybin therapy.

To add to this, one more win for psychedelic research has been seen in the Netherlands: Michiel van Elk, Assistant Professor at the University of Leiden, has just been awarded a major grant to study the cognitive and neurobiological action of psychedelic substances.

The grant in question, totaling €800,000, supports van Elk for the next five years in his academic endeavors.

An Unorthodox Journey

Van Elk hasn’t always chased the topic of psychedelics, though. Being raised in a Pentecostal church just outside of Amsterdam contributed to his immense fascination with the mystical and spiritual. As a teenager, he…