Patient first - pharmacy to PhD

I am a third-year PhD student in the King’s PhD Programme in Mental Health Research for Health Professionals, funded by the Wellcome Trust. My main motivation in applying for this programme was the opportunity to propose and co-design a project in collaboration with my current supervisors.

My professional background is in pharmacy, where I have worked clinically within a Multiple Sclerosis team in the hospital sector, and in Research & Development, managing the distribution of Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products. During my MSc in dementia research, I became interested in the link between depression and dementia, specifically in understanding how the incidence of depression can contribute to the onset of dementia. With the rising prevalence of mental health issues and dementia, particularly due to an ageing population, researching this biological relationship is crucial for the development of new treatments to prevent cognitive decline.

The therapeutic potential of psilocybin - a psychedelic compound known for its antidepressant effects - has become a mainstream conversation. My research explores the pharmacological mechanisms of psilocybin and evaluates its activity in the context of adult hippocampal neurogenesis - the process of generating new neurons in the brain area severely affected by Alzheimer's disease. Despite increasing interest in psychedelics' health benefits, these compounds remain controversial. I believe that translational, mechanistic research can provide much-needed evidence to support their disease-modulating activity.

As a pharmacist with clinical and industrial experience, I am particularly committed to a "patient-first" approach, which considers not only the efficacy and safety of a potential drug but also its feasibility for development and integration into the larger healthcare system - which was at the forefront when designing this PhD project. Psilocybin is a good candidate for clinical development - its use is well-established, it can be consumed orally, and it is not associated with renal or hepatic toxicity at therapeutic doses.

While more evidence on the benefits of psilocybin for mental health and cognitive function is needed, I am excited to contribute to this rapidly evolving field and to generate research that could ultimately improve the acceptance and availability of these therapies.