Under the direction of internationally acclaimed researcher Rachel Yehuda, PhD, the center will expand and move to a new location, increasing capacity for therapy, research, and therapist training, with a primary focus on veterans. It is also being renamed The Parsons Research Center for Psychedelic Healing to acknowledge the couple’s deeply held belief in the potential of psychedelic psychotherapy to alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other stress-related conditions.
“My own battle with PTSD lasted for decades after I returned from the Vietnam War,” says Bob Parsons, United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “It was psychedelic-assisted therapy that finally brought me home after all those years, and even with the FDA’s recent decision, we’re digging in and funding more research because I have all the evidence I need—I know it works.”
The expansion builds on Mount Sinai’s strong scientific vision in the field, and allows the center to push forward with groundbreaking clinical trials, especially those aimed at uncovering effective treatments for veterans, who disproportionately experience PTSD and other conditions that have been resistant to conventional therapies.
“We are hopeful that the innovative research and training being done at Mount Sinai will go on to transform the lives of veterans, and others, who endure debilitating mental health conditions,” says Renee Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Bob and I know firsthand the detrimental impacts of PTSD—not only on the individual but on the entire family. We remain committed to battling the stigma surrounding mental health and shining a light on such promising treatments.”
Renee and Bob Parsons, center left and right, with Mount Sinai faculty and leaders, from left: Amy Lehrner, PhD; Rachel Yehuda, PhD; Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD; and René S. Kahn, MD, PhD.
Mount Sinai investigators affiliated with the Center will also conduct research on other specific areas—for example, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and psilocybin for patients with major depression and for the treatment of intergenerational trauma, as well as MDMA (3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted therapy for patients with eating disorders. Most trials will examine the mechanism of action of psychedelics using the latest technologies in neuroimaging, molecular neuroscience, and natural language processing.
“Since its initial launch in 2021, our psychedelic psychotherapy research center has made progress toward advancing our understanding of the therapeutic potential for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy,” says Dr. Yehuda, Director of The Parsons Research Center for Psychedelic Healing. “The decision by the FDA has cast some uncertainty as to how and when psychedelic therapy will be broadly available, but it has also made clear that there is a critical need to advance rigorous psychedelic research. Our team remains steadfast in our commitment to this work to ensure that the incredible momentum that has been generated by academic researchers does not falter.”
“New treatment options are desperately needed for the millions of people, both civilians and veterans, who have mood and anxiety disorders such as PTSD and major depression,” says Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System. “Mount Sinai researchers lead on the frontier of biomedicine, applying scientific rigor while also challenging clinical and scientific dogma to emerge as true innovators. Under Dr. Yehuda’s leadership and through the unwavering support of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, we can propel our efforts with the speed, safety, and quality that will have a meaningful impact on the field of psychedelic psychotherapy and the patients we serve.”
Adds Dr. Yehuda: “This is an existential moment for the field of psychedelic research in mental health, and The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is shining a light on a path forward. With their vision and commitment, and the continued generosity of our donors, we will meet the needs of the moment.”