A colorful photo illustration featuring three portraits of people featured on this list and images of psilocybin mushrooms, a brain, and pills
Alex Hogan/STAT

The field of psychedelics, once relegated to the fringes of science and medicine, is in the midst of both transformation and flux. Several key figures stand out in their efforts to push forward the advancement of psychedelic medicine, in the face of ongoing controversy, regulatory hurdles, and stigma.

Psychiatric medicine hasn’t seen much innovation in recent decades, even as many say that drugs like psilocybin, MDMA, and DMT can offer real hope to millions of people who suffer from mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and addiction. 

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More recently, there has been a tidal wave of investment in the space, at least before last month’s rejection of MDMA-assisted therapy by the Food and Drug Administration. Now, many boosters are not only advancing the science of psychedelics, but also navigating the political, regulatory, and ethical dimensions of bringing psychedelics into mainstream medicine.

Here is a list of some of the top figures to watch in the field. 

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