ScientificProposal

Dear friends and colleagues! We hope this message finds you well. We are writing on behalf of our Ukrainian scientific team to explore potential collaborative opportunities with you. Given your team's expertise in investigating the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for treating stress-related mood disorders, we believe that a partnership could yield significant advancements in addressing the mental health challenges faced by Ukrainian populations affected by the war.
At the moment, we have representatives from different spheres of activities around the globe.

Science team

Our team brings a multidisciplinary background in sleep, trauma, and cognitive science, as well as expertise in molecular biology, neuroscience, and therapy:

Anton Mormul — co-founder of Ukrainian Psychedelic Research Association (UPRA), Founder of the Fenix Project, clinical psychology student, and PAT-therapist.
Maryna Mormulmember of UPRA, founder of Fenix Project, entrepreneur in pharmaceutical industry, co-founder of scientific research centre Doslid in Ukraine, doctor, and PAT-therapist.

Trauma, Sleep, and Cognitive Science

Anton Kurapov — Postdoc Researcher Department of Psychology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Faculty of Psychology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Molecular Biology

Viktor Dosenko — head of general and molecular pathophysiology department at Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, author of 7 monographs, books, more than 100 scientific works. 

NEUROSCIENCE

Andrii Lysenko — master student IMPRS Neuroscience, Göttingen, Germany. 

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Frontier in mental health treatment


We see these days that psychedelic research has emerged as a promising frontier in mental health treatment, offering novel approaches to conditions that are often resistant to traditional therapies. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in widespread psychological trauma among civilians, refugees, military personnel, and veterans. Traditional mental health interventions have proven insufficient in addressing mainly the scale but also the complexity of these issues that are usually comorbid, which is also proven by our own research. Introducing psychedelic-assistedtherapies in Ukraine is a significant step towardproviding effective treatment for trauma related to warand other severe psychological challenges.
Collaborating with leading research institutions like yours would not only enhance the scientific rigor of these efforts but also facilitate the integration of Ukrainian researchers into the global psychedelic research community. For us it is particularly crucial for advancing legislative changes and promoting acceptance of these therapies within Ukraine, ultimately enabling access to treatments that millions desperately need.

Frontier in mental health treatment


We see these days that psychedelic research has emerged as a promising frontier in mental health treatment, offering novel approaches to conditions that are often resistant to traditional therapies. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in widespread psychological trauma among civilians, refugees, military personnel, and veterans. Traditional mental health interventions have proven insufficient in addressing mainly the scale but also the complexity of these issues that are usually comorbid, which is also proven by our own research. Introducing psychedelic-assistedtherapies in Ukraine is a significant step towardproviding effective treatment for trauma related to warand other severe psychological challenges.

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Collaborating with leading research institutions like yours would not only enhance the scientific rigor of these efforts but also facilitate the integration of Ukrainian researchers into the global psychedelic research community. For us it is particularly crucial for advancing legislative changes and promoting acceptance of these therapies within Ukraine, ultimately enabling access to treatments that millions desperately need.

Frontier in mental health treatment


We see these days that psychedelic research has emerged as a promising frontier in mental health treatment, offering novel approaches to conditions that are often resistant to traditional therapies. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in widespread psychological trauma among civilians, refugees, military personnel, and veterans. Traditional mental health interventions have proven insufficient in addressing mainly the scale but also the complexity of these issues that are usually comorbid, which is also proven by our own research. Introducing psychedelic-assistedtherapies in Ukraine is a significant step towardproviding effective treatment for trauma related to warand other severe psychological challenges.
Collaborating with leading research institutions like yours would not only enhance the scientific rigor of these efforts but also facilitate the integration of Ukrainian researchers into the global psychedelic research community. For us it is particularly crucial for advancing legislative changes and promoting acceptance of these therapies within Ukraine, ultimately enabling access to treatments that millions desperately need.

Research directions

With this in mind, we would like to briefly propose the following potential research directions, each suggested to be designed as a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to ensure methodological rigor. We are committed to conducting single or double-blind studies, as appropriate. Please note that we only suggest the research direction and all further details will yet have to be discussed, since we would like to consider your interests first.
1. Refugees: Assessing the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) in alleviating depression and anxiety among Ukrainian refugees residing in countries where such interventions are decriminalized.
2. Individuals Within Ukraine: Evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of PAT for individuals within Ukraine, with a particular focus on those who could safely access treatment in supervised settings abroad, where such interventions are decriminalized or research license is available.
3. Military Personnel and Veterans: Investigating the impact of PAT on PTSD, depression, and anxiety in active-duty personnel and veterans, offering a pathway to rehabilitation and reintegration due to the lack of the corresponding mental health support within Ukraine and drastically increased demand.
4. Phantom Limbs and War Trauma: Exploring the potential of PAT to address phantom limb pain and sensations, together with associated psychological distress in veterans (and/or civilians) who have suffered amputations.
5. Microdosing: Assessing the effects of microdosing psychedelic substances on stress resilience and cognitive function in individuals exposed to (or formerly exposed) ongoing conflict, including both civilians and military personnel.
6. Integration of PAT with Virtual Reality (VR): Exploring the potential of combining PAT with immersive VR environments to facilitate emotional processing and therapeutic breakthroughs. This approach could leverage platforms such as those developed by Aspichi (unique Ukrainian startup), specializing in VR for psychological rehabilitation.
7. PAT Augmented with Neurofeedback: Investigating the potential of real-time neurofeedback to enhance the efficacy of PAT by promoting greater self-regulation and emotional resilience. With recently acquired state-of-the-art neurofeedback devices, we aim to explore this promising synergy.
8. Comparative Efficacy of PAT and Traditional Therapies: Comparing the effectiveness of PAT against established therapeutic modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), across diverse populations (civilians, veterans, those with different severity of being affected by the war).
9. Integration of Veterans into Postwar Life: Investigating the role of PAT in facilitating the reintegration of veterans into civilian life, with a focus on improving social functioning, employment outcomes, and overall quality of life.
10. Experience of Grief and Prolonged Grief Disorder: Assessing the efficacy of PAT in alleviating symptoms of grief and preventing prolonged grief disorder among individuals who have lost loved ones due to the conflict (especially older population and families).
11. Sleep Interventions and PAT: Exploring the combined effects of PAT and sleep interventions on improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia symptoms (potentially including recurring nightmares). Objective measurement of sleep parameters will be conducted using the Sleep² tool in collaboration with the Sleep Lab in Salzburg (Austria).
12. Pre- and Post-Intervention Assessments with ESMira: Utilizing the ESMira tool for Experience Sampling Method (ESM) to monitor daily changes in mental health and/or cognitive performance before and after PAT interventions (or based on any other suggested protocols). Neuropsychological tests may also be included for individuals showing significant impairments.
13. Continuous Traumatic Stress Disorder (CTSD): Investigating the potential of macro- and/or microdosing psychedelics to alleviate stress symptoms in individuals experiencing ongoing threats, such as frequent rocket attacks and alarms. This research will build on the work of Prof. Andreas Maercker and his Israeli colleagues in understanding CTSD, with Ukraine being the ‘perfect’ example of such continuous and endless exposure.
14. Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) and PAT: Investigating whether PAT can facilitate positive psychological changes, such as personal growth and resilience, in individuals recovering from war-related trauma.
15. Family Dynamics and PAT: Exploring the impact of PAT on family systems, focusing on improving communication, emotional support, and relationship quality in families affected by war trauma.
16. Resilience Building in Healthcare Workers: Examining the efficacy of PAT in enhancing stress resilience and preventing burnout among frontline healthcare workers.
17. Long-Term Neurobiological Effects of PAT: Investigating the sustained neurobiological changes induced by PAT, focusing on their role in emotional regulation and trauma recovery.
18. Hybrid Therapies Combining PAT with any other Therapy: Evaluating whether combining PAT with art therapy, music therapy, or physical rehabilitation therapy can enhance overall treatment outcomes.
19. Biomarkers of PTSD, CPTSD, and CTSD: Searching for biomarkers specific to PTSD and Complex PTSD (potentially CTSD as well) to better understand the biological underpinnings and treatment responses of these disorders.
20. Senescence and Accelerated Aging in PTSD Patients: Investigating the relationship between PTSD and markers of accelerated biological aging, including telomere length and cellular senescence (e.g., HBA1c).
21. Epigenetic Studies in PTSD Patients: Exploring changes in the methylome of PTSD patients to identify epigenetic markers that could inform treatment strategies and reveal the long-term impact of trauma.
This list serves as a starting point for suggestions, which can be further expanded, refined, or adjusted to meet mutual goals. We greatly appreciate your consideration of our proposal and are eager to engage in further discussions to develop these ideas, specify details, and explore new opportunities for collaboration. Our team is prepared to handle all aspects of the process, including grant writing, securing financing, coordinating with relevant facilities, and addressing legal matters. We look forward to working together to achieve meaningful and effective outcomes.

Warm regards, Fenix's Team.

We will be grateful for your feedback and opportunities for cooperation.Thanks in advance.