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University and Clinical DMT Research Studies
Every identified university and clinical DMT study — with institution, researchers, findings, and links to published papers.
PART 2: UNIVERSITY AND CLINICAL DMT RESEARCH STUDIES
2.1 University of New Mexico — Rick Strassman (1990-1995)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque |
| Lead Researcher | Rick Strassman, MD |
| Years Conducted | 1990-1995 |
| Number of Subjects | 60 volunteers, approximately 400 doses administered |
| Study Type | Dose-response, tolerance, and mechanism-of-action studies |
| Substance | IV N,N-DMT |
| Published Book | DMT: The Spirit Molecule (2000) |
What They Found
- First new human psychedelic research in the United States in over 20 years
- No development of tolerance to DMT
- Inconclusive results on which serotonin receptor mediates DMT's effects
- Volunteers reported: entity encounters, out-of-body experiences, mystical states, contact with alien beings, healing experiences, and personal psychological breakthroughs
- Strassman came to call DMT the "spirit molecule" because its effects include many features of religious experience: visions, voices, disembodied consciousness, powerful emotions, novel insights, and feelings of overwhelming significance
Key Quote
"Many of the volunteers described similar beings, without having spoken to each other about their experiences." — Rick Strassman, MD
Sources
2.2 Johns Hopkins University — Entity Encounter Survey (2020)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research |
| Lead Researchers | Alan K. Davis, John M. Clifton, Eric G. Weaver, Ethan S. Hurwitz, Matthew W. Johnson, Roland R. Griffiths |
| Year Published | 2020 |
| Number of Subjects | 2,561 respondents (mean age 32, 77% male) |
| Study Type | Online survey of entity encounter experiences |
| Substance | Inhaled N,N-DMT (retrospective self-report) |
| Journal | Journal of Psychopharmacology |
| Paper Title | "Survey of entity encounter experiences occasioned by inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine: Phenomenology, interpretation, and enduring effects" |
What They Found
- Largest survey of DMT entity encounters ever conducted
- Primary senses involved: visual and extrasensory (telepathic)
- Most common entity labels: being, guide, spirit, alien, helper
- 80% reported communication (two-way exchange of information)
- 69% received a message, task, mission, purpose, or insight
- 81% felt the experience was "more real" than reality during the encounter
- 65% continued to believe this after the encounter
- 75% reported entity existed in a real but different dimension
- 72% believed the entity continued to exist after the encounter
- More than half of former atheists (28% of sample) reported belief in a higher power afterward
- Over half rated the encounter among the top five most meaningful experiences of their lives
- 41% reported fear during the encounter, but love, kindness, and joy were the most prominent emotions
Key Quote
"Most respondents reported that the entity had the attributes of being conscious, intelligent and benevolent, existed in some real but different dimension of reality, and continued to exist after the encounter." — Davis et al., 2020
Sources
2.3 Imperial College London — Brain Imaging Study (2023)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Imperial College London, Centre for Psychedelic Research |
| Lead Researchers | Christopher Timmermann, Leor Roseman, Robin Carhart-Harris |
| Year Published | March 2023 |
| Number of Subjects | 20 healthy volunteers |
| Study Type | Simultaneous EEG and fMRI brain imaging during DMT experience |
| Substance | 20mg IV N,N-DMT |
| Journal | PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) |
| Paper Title | "Human brain effects of DMT assessed via EEG-fMRI" |
What They Found
- First study to combine EEG and fMRI imaging to study the brain during an immersive psychedelic experience
- First study to track brain activity before, during, and after DMT experience in such detail
- Increased connectivity across the brain during DMT, with more communication between different areas and systems
- Changes most prominent in areas linked with "higher level" functions such as imagination
- Marked dysregulation of brain rhythms that would ordinarily be dominant
- Brain switched to "something altogether more anarchic" in its mode of functioning
- The brain entered a highly irregular and plastic state under DMT
Key Quote
"When a volunteer was on DMT there was a marked dysregulation of some of the brain rhythms that would ordinarily be dominant, and the brain switched in its mode of functioning to something altogether more anarchic." — Imperial College London press release, March 2023
Sources
2.4 Imperial College London — DMT and Mental Health Outcomes (2024)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Imperial College London |
| Lead Researchers | Christopher Timmermann, David Erritzoe, Tommaso Barba |
| Year Published | February 2024 |
| Number of Subjects | 13 (placebo comparison) and 17 (pre/post comparison) |
| Study Type | Effects of IV DMT on mental health outcomes in healthy volunteers |
| Substance | IV N,N-DMT (7, 14, 18, and 20mg doses vs. saline placebo) |
| Journal | Scientific Reports |
| Paper Title | "Effects of DMT on mental health outcomes in healthy volunteers" |
What They Found
- Significant improvements in scores of depression found 1-2 weeks after DMT administration
- Effects observed in both prospective and placebo-controlled datasets
- DMT demonstrated potential mental health benefits even in healthy (non-depressed) volunteers
Sources
2.5 Imperial College London — DMT Models Near-Death Experience (2018)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Imperial College London, Psychedelic Research Group |
| Lead Researcher | Christopher Timmermann |
| Year Published | 2018 |
| Number of Subjects | 13 healthy participants |
| Study Type | Within-subjects placebo-controlled study comparing DMT experiences to NDEs |
| Substance | IV N,N-DMT vs. placebo |
| Journal | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Paper Title | "DMT Models the Near-Death Experience" |
What They Found
- All volunteers scored above the threshold for determining an NDE on validated NDE measures
- DMT could mimic actual near-death experiences at a comparable intensity to those who have actually had an NDE
- Significant overlap in nearly all NDE phenomenological features when comparing DMT-induced experiences with a matched group of actual NDE experiencers
- Common features: out-of-body experiences, transitioning to another world, inner peace, perceiving and communicating with sentient entities, themes related to death and dying
Sources
2.6 Imperial College London — Extended-State DMT Pilot Study (2023)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Imperial College London, Centre for Psychedelic Research |
| Lead Researchers | Christopher Timmermann, Lisa Luan |
| Year Published | 2023 |
| Study Type | World's first pilot study of extended-state DMT (DMTx) |
| Substance | Continuous IV N,N-DMT infusion |
| Journal | Pre-print |
What They Found
- Heart rate and anxiety levels increased sharply at the beginning of the infusion but soon settled at normal levels
- Extended-state DMT is well-tolerated and neither physiologically nor psychologically overwhelming
- Ratings of immersion, visual imagery, and entity encounters increased with dosage
- Ego dissolution remained low even at the highest dose level
- Demonstrated the feasibility of maintaining a stable DMT experience for extended periods
Sources
2.7 Imperial College London / Beckley Psytech — 5-MeO-DMT Brain Imaging (2024-2026)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Imperial College London |
| Lead Researchers | Christopher Timmermann, David Erritzoe, Tommaso Barba (PhD student) |
| Years | First participant dosed June 2024; results expected 2026 |
| Number of Subjects | Up to 20 healthy volunteers |
| Study Type | Single-blind, placebo-controlled with high-density EEG scans |
| Substance | BPL-003 (intranasal 5-MeO-DMT benzoate), 12mg dose vs. placebo |
| Sponsor | Beckley Psytech |
Status
First participant dosed in June 2024. Initial results expected in 2026. The study represents continuing investigation into how 5-MeO-DMT affects human brain function and consciousness.
Sources
2.8 University of Michigan — Endogenous DMT in the Mammalian Brain (2019)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine |
| Lead Researcher | Jimo Borjigin, PhD (Borjigin Lab) |
| Year Published | 2019 |
| Study Type | Investigation of endogenous DMT biosynthesis and concentrations in mammalian brain |
| Journal | Scientific Reports |
| Paper Title | "Biosynthesis and Extracellular Concentrations of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in Mammalian Brain" |
What They Found
- First discovery of widespread naturally occurring DMT in the mammalian brain
- INMT transcripts (the enzyme needed to produce DMT) identified in the cerebral cortex, pineal gland, and choroid plexus of both rats and humans
- Extracellular concentrations of DMT in the cerebral cortex of normal behaving rats were similar to those of canonical monoamine neurotransmitters including serotonin
- Significant increase of DMT levels in the rat visual cortex following induction of experimental cardiac arrest — independent of an intact pineal gland
- This finding is directly relevant to near-death experience research: the body may release higher amounts of endogenous DMT in moments of extreme stress or clinical death
Key Quote
"We don't know what it's doing in the brain. All we're saying is we discovered the neurons that make this chemical in the brain, and they do so at levels similar to other monoamine neurotransmitters." — Jimo Borjigin, PhD
Sources
2.9 Johns Hopkins / University of Gothenburg — DMT Familiarity Study (2023)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institutions | Johns Hopkins University; collaborators |
| Lead Researchers | David W. Lawrence, Alex P. DiBattista, Christopher Timmermann |
| Year Published | 2023 |
| Number of Reports Analyzed | 227 Reddit reports describing familiarity |
| Study Type | Qualitative analysis of familiarity experiences; questionnaire development |
| Journal | Journal of Psychoactive Drugs |
| Paper Title | "N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-Occasioned Familiarity and the Sense of Familiarity Questionnaire (SOF-Q)" |
What They Found
- 56 reports were from people with no prior DMT experience, yet they still experienced familiarity
- None referenced a previous psychedelic experience as the source of familiarity
- 25% said it felt like returning to a place they had visited before
- 22% said it felt like home or going home
- 20% encountered an entity with whom they perceived a prior relationship or bond
- 11.5% said encountered entities felt like family
- Developed the Sense of Familiarity Questionnaire (SOF-Q) with 19 features across 5 themes
Sources
2.10 Maastricht University — Extended DMT Administration (2023)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Maastricht University, Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology |
| Lead Researcher | Natasha Mason, PhD |
| Year Published | 2023 |
| Study Type | Exploratory study of bolus injection + constant-rate IV infusion |
| Substance | IV N,N-DMT (extended administration) |
| Journal | Psychopharmacology |
| Paper Title | "Psychological and physiological effects of extended DMT" |
What They Found
- Subjective effects were maintained over the period of active infusion
- Anxiety ratings remained low throughout
- Heart rate habituated within 15 minutes
- Demonstrated psychological and physiological safety of extended DMT administration
- Validated the feasibility of extended-duration DMT experiences in clinical settings
Sources
2.11 Maastricht University — 5-MeO-DMT and Deconstructed Consciousness (2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Maastricht University |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Study Type | Exploratory observational study in naturalistic ceremonial settings |
| Methods | Micro-phenomenological interviews, psychometric questionnaires, EEG |
| Substance | 5-MeO-DMT (inhaled, naturalistic setting) |
| Journal | Neuroscience of Consciousness |
| Paper Title | "Exploring 5-MeO-DMT as a pharmacological model for deconstructed consciousness" |
What They Found
- The 5-MeO-DMT experience followed a dynamic progression
- In the most extreme cases: complete absence of self-experience and other phenomenal content, with preserved awareness
- Visual imagery, bodily self-disruption, narrative self-disruption, and reduced phenomenal distinctions occurred in variable fashion
- Demonstrated that 5-MeO-DMT can produce states of consciousness where content is absent but awareness remains
Sources
2.12 Maastricht University / Beckley Foundation — DMT and Harmine (Ayahuasca Analog)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Maastricht University, in collaboration with the Beckley Foundation |
| Year Published | 2024 |
| Study Type | Controlled trial in healthy subjects |
| Substance | Ayahuasca-inspired N,N-DMT and harmine formulation |
| Journal | Published in PMC |
| Paper Title | "Potential therapeutic effects of an ayahuasca-inspired N,N-DMT and harmine formulation: a controlled trial in healthy subjects" |
What They Found
- Investigated the therapeutic potential of combining DMT with harmine (a monoamine oxidase inhibitor found in ayahuasca)
- Evaluated both acute psychedelic effects and potential therapeutic outcomes in healthy volunteers
- Part of the broader Beckley/Maastricht Psychedelic Programme
Sources
2.13 Yale University — DMT for Major Depressive Disorder (2022-ongoing)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Yale School of Medicine |
| Years | 2022-ongoing |
| Number of Subjects | Phase 1: 3 healthy controls + 7 MDD patients |
| Study Type | Open-label, fixed-order, dose-escalation (0.1 mg/kg then 0.3 mg/kg) |
| Substance | IV N,N-DMT |
| Journal | Neuropsychopharmacology (Nature) |
| Paper Title | "Exploratory study of the dose-related safety, tolerability, and efficacy of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in healthy volunteers and major depressive disorder" |
What They Found
- DMT was tolerated by both healthy controls and MDD participants with no dropouts
- HAMD-17 scores decreased significantly (p = 0.017) the day after 0.3 mg/kg DMT (mean difference -4.5 points)
- Adverse events were mostly mild with one self-limited serious event
- DMT increased blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety, psychedelic effects, and psychotomimetic effects — all resolved within 20-30 minutes of injection
- Demonstrated that DMT can be safely administered in a typical hospital setting with strategic psychoeducation/support but minimal psychotherapy
Ongoing Studies
Yale is continuing with additional DMT clinical trials including:
- Extended-state DMT (bolus + constant infusion) for major depression
- DMT for alcohol use disorder
- EEG data collection during DMT administration
Sources
- PubMed
- Yale Psychiatry - Ongoing Research
- ClinicalTrials.gov - DMT Depression Study
- Freethink - Yale Results
2.14 University of California San Diego — Extended-State DMT (2023-ongoing)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | UC San Diego, Center for Psychedelic Research |
| Lead Researchers | Fadel Zeidan, PhD; Jon Dean, PhD (DMT Research Director) |
| Years | 2023-ongoing |
| Funding | $1.5 million grant from Eugene Jhong (July 2023) |
| Study Type | Extended-state IV DMT in humans — mapping phenomenological, neurological, and physiological responses |
| Substance | Continuous IV N,N-DMT infusion |
What They're Doing
- Only university in the U.S. with a dedicated division for extended-state DMT research
- Mapping the phenomenological, neurological, and physiological responses to DMT during longer windows of time created with infusion protocols
- Optimizing the titratable method of DMT administration for use in upcoming clinical trials on chronic pain (including traumatic brain injury) and comorbid psychiatric conditions
Sources
2.15 Small Pharma / King's College London — SPL026 Phase IIa for Major Depression (2023-2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Small Pharma (now Cybin); trial sites in UK |
| Year Published | January 2023 (top-line results); full paper 2025 in Nature Medicine |
| Number of Subjects | 34 participants with moderate/severe MDD |
| Study Type | Phase IIa randomized placebo-controlled trial |
| Substance | SPL026 (21.5mg IV N,N-DMT) with supportive therapy |
| Journal | Nature Medicine (2025) |
| Paper Title | "A short-acting psychedelic intervention for major depressive disorder: a phase IIa randomized placebo-controlled trial" |
What They Found
- Statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in depressive symptoms at 2 weeks vs. placebo
- -7.4 point difference in MADRS score (p=0.02)
- Remission rate of 57% at 3 months following a single dose
- Favorable safety and tolerability profile
- No drug-related serious adverse events
- All treatment-related adverse events were mild or moderate
- The psychedelic experience lasted 20-30 minutes
Key Quote
"SPL026 with supportive therapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in depressive symptoms... with a remission rate of 57% at 3 months following a single dose." — Small Pharma press release, January 2023
Sources
2.16 Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) — Vaporized DMT for Treatment-Resistant Depression (2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brain Institute, Natal, Brazil |
| Lead Researchers | Marcelo Falchi-Carvalho, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Draulio B. de Araujo |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Number of Subjects | 14 patients with treatment-resistant depression |
| Study Type | Phase 2a, fixed-order, dose-escalation (15mg and 60mg) |
| Substance | Vaporized (inhaled) N,N-DMT |
| Journal | Neuropsychopharmacology |
| Paper Title | "Rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of vaporized N,N-dimethyltryptamine: a phase 2a clinical trial in treatment-resistant depression" |
What They Found
- Treatment was safe, well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events
- Average reduction of 21.14 points on MADRS by day 7
- Response rate of 85.71% at day 7
- Remission rate of 57.14% at day 7, lasting up to 3 months
- Suicidal ideation significantly decreased, with no severe ideation the day after dosing
- Vaporized DMT acts quickly (10-20 minutes) and poses fewer pharmacological interaction risks than ayahuasca
Sources
2.17 Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) — Ayahuasca for Depression (2018)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brain Institute |
| Lead Researchers | Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Draulio B. de Araujo |
| Year Published | 2018 |
| Number of Subjects | 218 patients screened; randomized placebo-controlled |
| Study Type | Randomized placebo-controlled trial |
| Substance | Ayahuasca (containing DMT + harmine) |
| Journal | Psychological Medicine |
What They Found
- One week after administration, 64% of patients who received ayahuasca still felt their depression had eased
- Only 27% in the placebo group reported similar improvement
- Demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects of ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression
Sources
2.18 University of Basel, Switzerland — Acute Effects of IV DMT (2023)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | University Hospital Basel, University of Basel |
| Year Published | May 2023 |
| Study Type | Randomized placebo-controlled study in healthy participants |
| Substance | IV N,N-DMT |
| Journal | Published in peer-reviewed journal |
| Paper Title | "Acute effects of intravenous DMT in a randomized placebo-controlled study in healthy participants" |
What They Found
- Characterized the acute pharmacological and subjective effects of IV DMT in a controlled clinical setting
- Contributed to understanding DMT's distinct pharmacological profile — notably its very short duration of action compared to other classical psychedelics
Sources
2.19 Leiden University Medical Centre (Netherlands) — 6-Hour DMT Infusion (2024-2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Leiden University Medical Centre / Centre for Human Drug Research, Netherlands |
| Sponsor | Algernon Pharmaceuticals |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Study Type | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 |
| Substance | IV N,N-DMT (30-second bolus + 6-hour continuous infusion) |
| Journal | Clinical and Translational Science |
| Paper Title | "Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of a 6-h N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Infusion in Healthy Volunteers" |
What They Found
- Doses predicted to result in exposures below the psychedelic threshold were safe and well-tolerated
- Met all safety and tolerability criteria including at the highest dose
- Pharmacokinetic data characterized DMT behavior during extended infusion
- Data presented at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research in Haarlem, Netherlands (June 2024)
- Results enabled progression to Phase 2a stroke study
Sources
2.20 HUN-REN BRC / Semmelweis University (Hungary) — DMT for Stroke (2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institutions | HUN-REN BRC Institute of Biophysics; Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Centre, Budapest |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Study Type | Pre-clinical (rat model and cell-based studies) |
| Substance | N,N-DMT |
| Journal | Science Advances |
| Paper Title | "N,N-dimethyltryptamine mitigates experimental stroke by stabilizing the blood-brain barrier and reducing neuroinflammation" |
What They Found
- DMT significantly reduced infarct volume and edema formation in a rat stroke model
- DMT restored tight junction integrity and blood-brain barrier function in vitro and in vivo
- DMT suppressed release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in brain endothelial cells and peripheral immune cells
- Reduced microglial activation via the sigma-1 receptor
- BD1063 (a sigma-1 receptor antagonist) blocked DMT's protective effects, confirming sigma-1 receptor dependence
- Reduction of cerebral edema, attenuated astrocyte dysfunction, and shift in serum protein composition toward anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective state
Sources
2.21 University College London (UCL) — DMT for Alcohol Use Disorder (2024-ongoing)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | University College London |
| Years | 2024-ongoing |
| Target Enrollment | 120 participants |
| Study Type | Clinical trial — IV DMT with brief psychological intervention |
| Substance | IV N,N-DMT (15-minute experience) |
| Focus | Alcohol use disorder (heavy drinking) |
| Funding | Wellcome Leap |
What They're Doing
- Largest psychedelic brain imaging study of its kind to date
- Examining whether DMT causes lasting changes in brain function through MRI and EEG scans
- Volunteers attend follow-up sessions up to nine months later
- DMT chosen because of its potency, safe administration profile, and impact on neuroplasticity
Sources
2.22 GH Research — GH-001 (5-MeO-DMT) Phase 1/2 and Phase 2b for Treatment-Resistant Depression (2023-2026)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | GH Research (multi-site international trial) |
| Year Published | Phase 1/2: July 2023; Phase 2b: January 2026 |
| Number of Subjects | Phase 2b: 80 patients (40 GH-001 + 40 placebo) |
| Study Type | Phase 1/2 then Phase 2b randomized placebo-controlled |
| Substance | GH-001 (vaporized 5-MeO-DMT) |
| Journal | Nature Medicine (Phase 1/2) |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | NCT05800860 |
What They Found
Phase 1/2 (2023):
- 12mg dose: 50% remission at day 7
- 18mg dose: 25% remission at day 7
- Individualized dosing regimen: 87.5% remission
Phase 2b (2026):
- Met primary endpoint with -15.5 point placebo-adjusted MADRS reduction on Day 8 (p<0.0001)
- 57.5% remission rate on Day 8 compared with 0% in placebo
- Described as "ultra-rapid antidepressant effect"
Sources
2.23 Beckley Psytech — BPL-003 (Intranasal 5-MeO-DMT) for Treatment-Resistant Depression (2024-2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Beckley Psytech (multi-site: 38 sites in 6 countries) |
| Year | Phase IIa data: 2024; Phase IIb enrollment completed March 2025 |
| Number of Subjects | Phase IIb: 196 patients |
| Study Type | Phase IIa and Phase IIb |
| Substance | BPL-003 (intranasal 5-MeO-DMT benzoate), 10mg dose |
What They Found (Phase IIa)
- Single 10mg dose was well-tolerated with short treatment duration
- Rapid, durable efficacy in patients with TRD
- Immediate antidepressant effect at day 2, increasing substantially by day 8, largely maintained to day 57
- Received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Sources
2.24 University of Toulouse / CNRS — DMT and Cortical Travelling Waves (2020)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition (CerCo), CNRS, Toulouse, France; in collaboration with Imperial College London |
| Lead Researcher | Andrea Alamia |
| Year Published | 2020 |
| Number of Subjects | 13 participants (eyes closed during DMT) |
| Study Type | EEG analysis of cortical travelling waves during DMT |
| Journal | eLife |
| Paper Title | "DMT alters cortical travelling waves" |
What They Found
- DMT caused striking changes in cortical dynamics comparable to those observed during actual eyes-open visual stimulation — even though participants had their eyes closed
- Significant reduction in alpha-band waves, coupled with increase in delta and theta bands for both forward and backward waves
- Increases in forward-moving waves correlated positively with real-time ratings of subjective intensity and visual imagery
- Demonstrated a direct relationship between travelling waves and conscious experience under DMT
Sources
2.25 Spanish National Research Council / Complutense University of Madrid — DMT and Neurogenesis (2020)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institutions | Spanish National Research Council (CSIC); Complutense University of Madrid |
| Year Published | 2020 |
| Study Type | In vitro and in vivo (mouse model) study of DMT-induced neurogenesis |
| Journal | Translational Psychiatry (Nature) |
| Paper Title | "N,N-dimethyltryptamine compound found in the hallucinogenic tea ayahuasca, regulates adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo" |
What They Found
- DMT administration activates the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus
- Promotes newly generated neurons and enhances adult neurogenesis
- Neurogenic effect involves signaling via sigma-1 receptor activation (S1R antagonist blocked the effect)
- Mice treated with DMT performed better in memory tests compared to control animals
- DMT stimulated proliferation of neural stem cells, migration of neuroblasts, and formation of new neurons
- Unlike other classical psychedelics, DMT's sigma-1 receptor interaction may enhance neuroplasticity, neuroprotection, and cognitive function
Sources
2.26 University of Szeged / Semmelweis University (Hungary) — DMT, Sigma-1 Receptors, and Alzheimer's (2022)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Institutions | Hungarian institutions including Semmelweis University |
| Year Published | 2022 |
| Study Type | Mouse model study — Alzheimer's disease |
| Journal | International Journal of Molecular Sciences (MDPI) |
| Paper Title | "Impact of Two Neuronal Sigma-1 Receptor Modulators, PRE084 and DMT, on Neurogenesis and Neuroinflammation in an Abeta1-42-Injected, Wild-Type Mouse Model of AD" |
What They Found
- DMT (as a sigma-1 receptor modulator) demonstrated effects on neurogenesis and neuroinflammation in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model
- Results suggest potential neuroprotective applications beyond stroke and depression
Sources
2.27 Andrew Gallimore — DMTx Theoretical Framework and Collaboration
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Researcher | Andrew R. Gallimore, PhD (Computational Neuroscience) |
| Affiliation | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) |
| Key Publication | Death by Astonishment: Confronting the Mystery of the World's Strangest Drug (2025, St. Martin's Publishing Group) |
| Contribution | Co-developed (with Rick Strassman) the pharmacokinetic model for continuous DMT infusion (DMTx) |
Theoretical Framework
Gallimore and Strassman developed the method of continuous intravenous infusion of DMT — "extended-state DMT" or "DMTx" — that can extend the duration of a DMT experience from minutes to hours using a programmable intravenous infusion device. The method allows maintaining steady brain DMT levels so that the standard 5-10 minute breakthrough trip can be extended indefinitely.
The principal aim of DMTx is to provide researchers and experiencers with enough time to carefully explore, map, and document the DMT dimension — something impossible during the standard 5-10 minute experience.
Sources
2.28 Phenomenology Studies — Pascal Michael et al. (2021-2022)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Study 1 | "An Encounter With the Other: A Thematic and Content Analysis of DMT Experiences From a Naturalistic Field Study" |
| Journal 1 | Frontiers in Psychology (2021) |
| Study 2 | "Phenomenology and content of the inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine (N,N-DMT) experience" |
| Journal 2 | Scientific Reports (Nature, 2022) |
| Study Type | Naturalistic field studies with semi-structured interviews |
What They Found
Study 1 (2021):
- First naturalistic field study of DMT use including qualitative analysis
- Screened, healthy, experienced DMT users observed during non-clinical use at home (40-75mg inhaled)
- In-depth semi-structured interviews immediately after experience
- Encounters with other "beings" occurred in 94% of reports
- 100% of reports included experiences of emerging into other "worlds"
Study 2 (2022):
- The most commonly reported environment was an "alternate" or "higher" dimension
- Communication with entities common, occurring in 75% of experiences
- Environmental architecture includes recurring themes: "waiting rooms," tunnels or portals, and perceptions of higher-dimensional spaces that feel more real than ordinary reality
Sources
2.29 Stephen Kagan — Entity and Environment Relationships (2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Researcher | Stephen Kagan |
| Year Published | March 2025 |
| Number of Reports Analyzed | 150 |
| Study Type | Content analysis of entity-environment relationships |
| Journal | Journal of Psychedelic Studies |
| Paper Title | "Entity and environment relationships in psychedelic experiences resulting from inhalation of N,N-dimethyltryptamine" |
What They Found
- Consistent patterns in which certain entities tend to appear in particular inner landscapes
- Specific entity types are associated with specific environment types (see Section 1.1 above)
- The distribution of entities across environments is not random — there are reproducible patterns
Sources
2.30 Naturalistic NDE vs. DMT Comparison Study (2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Study Type | Comparative thematic and content analysis |
| Subjects | 36 DMT semi-structured interviews vs. 34 NDE written narratives |
| Journal | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Paper Title | "An encounter with death: a comparative thematic and content analysis of naturalistic DMT experiences and the near-death experience" |
What They Found
- Direct comparison of naturalistic DMT experience reports with genuine near-death experience accounts
- Identified overlapping phenomenological features including: out-of-body experiences, encountering other worlds, communicating with entities, themes of death and dying
- Provided the first naturalistic (non-clinical) comparison between DMT and NDE accounts
Sources
2.31 Algernon Pharmaceuticals / Leiden — DMT for Stroke Phase 2a (Planned 2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Algernon Pharmaceuticals (AGN Neuro) |
| Trial Site | Hungary (National Institute of Mental Health, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Budapest) |
| Planned PI | Dr. Sandor Nardai |
| Target Enrollment | 40 actual stroke patients |
| Study Type | Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled |
| Substance | Sub-psychedelic IV N,N-DMT |
| Status | Planned to begin Q3 2025 |
Study Design
- Primary endpoint: safety
- Secondary endpoints: impacted cognitive factors (vision, hearing, sound, aphasia, motor function) and brain infarct volume
- Based on positive Phase 1 data from Leiden and pre-clinical results showing DMT reduced brain damage in rat stroke models
Sources
2.32 5-MeO-DMT and Cortical Dynamics (2024)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Year Published | 2024 (pre-print) |
| Number of Subjects | 29 healthy individuals |
| Study Type | EEG data collection before and after 5-MeO-DMT |
| Paper Title | "Complex slow waves radically reorganise human brain dynamics under 5-MeO-DMT" |
What They Found
- 5-MeO-DMT radically reorganizes low-frequency flows of neural activity
- Causes them to become incoherent and cease their typical travelling patterns across the cortex
- Represents one of the most dramatic drug-induced alterations of brain dynamics observed
Sources
2.33 Comprehensive Systematic Review — Safety of DMT in Clinical Trials (2025)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Study Type | Systematic review of early-phase clinical trials |
| Databases Searched | PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, EMBASE (through October 2024) |
| Journal | Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry |
| Paper Title | "Safety and tolerability of NN-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in healthy volunteers and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients: A systematic review of early-phase clinical trials" |
What They Found
- Comprehensive overview of safety data across all early-phase DMT clinical trials
- Synthesized safety and tolerability findings from multiple institutions and study designs
- Provided the first systematic safety review of DMT in clinical settings
Sources
Summary Table: All Identified University/Clinical DMT Studies
| # | Institution | Lead Researcher(s) | Year | Subjects | Substance | Focus | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Univ. of New Mexico | Rick Strassman | 1990-95 | 60 | IV DMT | First human DMT study | Entity encounters, mystical states, no tolerance |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins | Davis, Griffiths et al. | 2020 | 2,561 | Inhaled DMT (survey) | Entity encounters | 81% "more real than real," 69% received messages |
| 3 | Imperial College London | Timmermann et al. | 2023 | 20 | IV DMT | Brain imaging (EEG+fMRI) | Increased brain connectivity, "anarchic" brain state |
| 4 | Imperial College London | Timmermann et al. | 2024 | 30 | IV DMT | Mental health outcomes | Depression improvement in healthy volunteers |
| 5 | Imperial College London | Timmermann | 2018 | 13 | IV DMT | NDE comparison | DMT mimics near-death experiences |
| 6 | Imperial College London | Timmermann, Luan | 2023 | — | IV DMT (extended) | Extended-state DMT pilot | Safe, well-tolerated, entity encounters increase with dose |
| 7 | Imperial College / Beckley | Timmermann, Barba | 2024-26 | 20 | Intranasal 5-MeO-DMT | Brain imaging | Ongoing; results expected 2026 |
| 8 | Univ. of Michigan | Jimo Borjigin | 2019 | — | Endogenous | Brain DMT biosynthesis | DMT found naturally in mammalian brain at serotonin-level concentrations |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins et al. | Lawrence, Timmermann | 2023 | 227 reports | Inhaled DMT | Familiarity phenomenon | 25% feel they're "returning"; no prior DMT needed |
| 10 | Maastricht Univ. | Natasha Mason | 2023 | — | IV DMT (extended) | Extended administration | Safe and tolerable; anxiety stays low |
| 11 | Maastricht Univ. | — | 2025 | — | 5-MeO-DMT | Deconstructed consciousness | Awareness without content possible |
| 12 | Maastricht / Beckley | — | 2024 | — | DMT + harmine | Ayahuasca analog | Therapeutic potential in healthy subjects |
| 13 | Yale University | — | 2022+ | 10 | IV DMT | Depression (dose-escalation) | Safe; significant depression score reduction |
| 14 | UC San Diego | Zeidan, Dean | 2023+ | — | IV DMT (extended) | Extended-state mapping | Only US university with dedicated DMTx division |
| 15 | Small Pharma / King's College | — | 2023-25 | 34 | IV DMT (SPL026) | Major depression | 57% remission at 3 months from single dose |
| 16 | Federal Univ. Rio Grande do Norte | Falchi-Carvalho, Palhano-Fontes | 2025 | 14 | Vaporized DMT | Treatment-resistant depression | 85.71% response, 57.14% remission at day 7 |
| 17 | Federal Univ. Rio Grande do Norte | Palhano-Fontes, de Araujo | 2018 | 218 screened | Ayahuasca | Depression | 64% improved vs. 27% placebo at 1 week |
| 18 | Univ. of Basel | — | 2023 | — | IV DMT | Acute pharmacological effects | Characterized DMT's short-duration pharmacology |
| 19 | Leiden Univ. Medical Centre | — | 2024-25 | — | IV DMT (6-hour infusion) | Sub-psychedelic dose safety | Safe at sub-psychedelic threshold for 6 hours |
| 20 | HUN-REN BRC / Semmelweis | — | 2025 | — (rats) | DMT | Stroke neuroprotection | Reduced infarct volume via sigma-1 receptor |
| 21 | Univ. College London | — | 2024+ | 120 target | IV DMT | Alcohol use disorder | Ongoing; largest psychedelic brain imaging study |
| 22 | GH Research | — | 2023-26 | 80 (Phase 2b) | Vaporized 5-MeO-DMT | Treatment-resistant depression | -15.5 MADRS reduction, 57.5% remission (Phase 2b) |
| 23 | Beckley Psytech | — | 2024-25 | 196 (Phase IIb) | Intranasal 5-MeO-DMT | Treatment-resistant depression | FDA Breakthrough Therapy; durable effect to day 57 |
| 24 | CNRS Toulouse / Imperial | Alamia | 2020 | 13 | IV DMT | Cortical travelling waves | DMT creates eyes-open-like brain patterns with eyes closed |
| 25 | Spanish CSIC / Complutense Madrid | — | 2020 | — (mice) | DMT | Neurogenesis | DMT grows new neurons via sigma-1 receptor |
| 26 | Szeged / Semmelweis (Hungary) | — | 2022 | — (mice) | DMT | Alzheimer's model | Neurogenesis and anti-neuroinflammation effects |
| 27 | Algernon / Leiden | — | 2025 planned | 40 target | Sub-psychedelic IV DMT | Stroke (Phase 2a) | Planned Q3 2025 in Budapest |
| 28 | Various | — | 2024 | 29 | 5-MeO-DMT | Cortical dynamics (EEG) | Radical reorganization of brain wave patterns |
| 29 | Various | — | 2025 | — | — | Systematic safety review | First comprehensive DMT safety review across trials |
| 30 | Various | Michael et al. | 2021-22 | Naturalistic | Inhaled DMT | Phenomenology | 94% entity encounters, 100% other-world experiences |
| 31 | — | Kagan | 2025 | 150 reports | Inhaled DMT | Entity-environment mapping | Specific entity types in specific environments |
| 32 | Various | — | 2025 | 36 DMT + 34 NDE | DMT vs NDE | Death comparison | Overlapping features between DMT and NDE |
Key Registered Clinical Trials on ClinicalTrials.gov
| Trial ID | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NCT04711915 | Fixed Order, Open-Label, Dose-Escalation Study of DMT | Yale University |
| NCT04353024 | Effects of Dimethyltryptamine in Healthy Subjects | Maastricht area |
| NCT05384678 | Acute Dose-dependent Effects of DMT in Healthy Subjects | Basel |
| NCT05559931 | Single and Repeat Doses of DMT in Healthy Subjects | — |
| NCT05573568 | Clinical Study of DMT in Healthy Adults | — |
| NCT05800860 | Trial of GH001 in TRD Patients | GH Research (multi-site) |
| NCT05901012 | Safety and Tolerability of DMT in Healthy Adults | — |
| NCT06051721 | Study of a N,N-dimethyltryptamine Analog | — |
| NCT06070649 | Therapeutic Effects of DMT on Alcohol Use Disorder | Yale |
2.34 Eleusis — First Legal Luxury DMTx Extended-State Cohorts (2026)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Facility | Eleusis, Bequia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Founded | 2026 |
| Key Personnel | Dr. Andrew Gallimore, PhD (Chief Science); Dr. Andrew Ferber, MD; Chris Timmermann; Carl Hayden Smith; Angus Taylor (Executive Leadership) |
| Facility Type | World's first legal, medically supervised luxury DMTx psychedelic immersion center |
| Study Type | Extended-state DMTx sessions using target-controlled IV (TCIV) infusion — sustained breakthrough-depth DMT for 30-60+ minutes |
| Substance | IV N,N-DMT (continuous infusion — DMTx protocol) |
| Status | First Extended State cohorts completed March 2026 |
| Cost | Introductory package $9,500 (four-day stay, two extended DMTx sessions) |
What They Found
- On March 31, 2026, Eleusis announced completion of their first Extended State DMTx cohorts — the first time the Gallimore-Strassman DMTx protocol has been deployed in a legal, medically supervised facility outside of a university lab setting
- Eleusis described the results as going beyond "surface-level insight" — participants experienced "sustained states" with "real-time guidance" from entities or consciousness structures within the DMT dimension
- The facility uses a precision-minded approach with customized dosing parameters and structured pre/post experience support
- The retreat operates legally under the jurisdiction of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Named after the ancient Greek site of the Eleusinian Mysteries — rituals that historically transformed participants and influenced philosophers including Plato and Aristotle
- Andrew Gallimore has described the program's goal as "SETI for the mind" — establishing sustained two-way communication with nonhuman, seemingly superintelligent entities encountered during DMT states
- The facility represents the transition of DMTx from academic pilot studies (Imperial College London, 2023) to an operational, repeatable program
Significance
This is a landmark development for DMT consciousness research. For the first time, the extended-state DMT protocol developed theoretically by Andrew Gallimore and Rick Strassman in 2015 has been deployed in a dedicated facility designed for sustained consciousness exploration. Unlike university studies constrained by ethics board protocols and small sample sizes, Eleusis can run repeated cohorts in a purpose-built environment — potentially generating far more data on entity encounters, dimensional access, and sustained altered states than any academic lab.
Sources
- @EleusisMind on X — First Extended State Cohort Announcement (March 31, 2026)
- Eleusis Official Website
- GlobeNewsWire — Eleusis Debut Announcement (February 2026)
- Eleusis — Extended-Release DMTx Science
Other Coverage Worth Reading
- Andrew R. Gallimore (Alieninsect): British neurobiologist, pharmacologist, and DMT researcher who argues that DMT entity encounters — particularly the recurring mantis/insectoid archetype...
- Danny Jones: Long-form podcaster and former Hollywood cinematographer whose Danny Jones Podcast has become one of the most prominent platforms...
- Simulation Theory (Consciousness Context): Reality is a virtual simulation — not computed by an advanced alien civilization on silicon hardware, but generated...
- Tom Campbell: Nuclear physicist, consciousness researcher, and author of the My Big TOE (Theory of Everything) trilogy, who proposes that...
This information was compiled by Claude AI research. Last updated: April 2026 — Added Eleusis first Extended State DMTx cohorts (Section 2.34).
Sources:
- Johns Hopkins Entity Survey - Full Paper
- Imperial College London Brain Imaging Study
- PNAS - Human Brain Effects of DMT
- Rick Strassman - DMT: The Spirit Molecule
- University of Michigan - Endogenous DMT
- DMT Familiarity Study - Big Think
- Nature Medicine - SPL026 Phase IIa
- Neuropsychopharmacology - Vaporized DMT for TRD
- Science Advances - DMT for Stroke
- GH Research Phase 2b Results
- Beckley Psytech BPL-003
- eLife - Cortical Travelling Waves
- Translational Psychiatry - DMT Neurogenesis
- Frontiers in Psychology - NDE Comparison (2018)
- Frontiers in Psychology - NDE Comparison (2025)
- Frontiers in Psychology - Naturalistic Field Study
- Scientific Reports - DMT Phenomenology
- UC San Diego Center for Psychedelic Research
- UCL DMT for Alcohol
- Yale Psychedelic Research
- DMTx.org
- Kagan Entity-Environment Study - ResearchGate
- Algernon Pharmaceuticals DMT Stroke Program
- Leiden DMT Infusion Study
- Maastricht 5-MeO-DMT Consciousness Study
- HowStuffWorks - DMT Elves
- IFLScience - DMT Entities
- Chacruna - DMT Hyperspace
- Qualia Computing - Hyperbolic Geometry of DMT
- DMT-Nexus Wiki - Hyperspace Lexicon