Psilocybin to Help with Emotional Challenges from Advanced Cancer
Official title: Psilocybin Therapy for Advanced Cancer-related Psychiatric Distress
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11123369 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is exploring if psilocybin can help people with advanced cancer feel better emotionally and improve their quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 4, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $662,352 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA268521-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123369 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be patients with advanced or terminal cancer experiencing significant anxiety, depression, or existential distress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have advanced cancer or are not experiencing significant emotional distress related to their cancer may not benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Many people with advanced cancer experience significant anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness, which can deeply affect their well-being. Current treatments for these emotional challenges often have limited success in providing lasting relief. This project is looking into whether psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, can safely and effectively reduce these difficult feelings. Previous work suggests that psilocybin-assisted sessions can lead to profound, meaningful experiences that improve mood, outlook, and overall well-being for months or even years. The goal is to see if this approach can significantly improve the quality of life for those facing advanced cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new and effective way to reduce anxiety, depression, and existential distress, significantly improving the quality of life for patients with advanced cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy is safe and has promising results in reducing anxiety and depression in cancer patients.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ross, Stephen — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Ross, Stephen
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.