Dr. Lance McMahon shares expertise on panel discussing psychedelic use to treat psychiatric conditions

Lance McMahon, Ph.D., chair and professor of pharmacodynamics

Lance McMahon, Ph.D., M.S., professor and chair of the department of pharmacodynamics, participated as a panelist discussing use of psychedelics for hard-to-treat psychiatric conditions on Sept. 20. The event was hosted by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Education at University of Florida Health and featured five panelists:

  • Bill Allen, J.D., M.Div., a professor in the UF colleges of medicine and pharmacy
  • Carol Matthews, M.D., vice chair for strategic development and Brooke Professor in the department of psychiatry
  • Lance McMahon, Ph.D., a professor and chair of the department of pharmacodynamics
  • Adam Strauss, a comedian and playwright of the one-man show, The Mushroom Cure
  • Henry Young, M.D., an assistant professor in the department of emergency medicine

McMahon shared background on clinical research initiatives nationally that are examining psychedelics to treat various conditions, including psychiatric disorders. He also addressed the effectiveness of drugs and how they target receptors in the brain, as well as the challenges in developing medications derived from psychedelics for every-day use.

The panel was moderated by Thomas Pearson, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., executive vice president for research and education at UF Health.