Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley is a Neuroscientist researching cannabinoids and psychedelics. Grace completed her Ph.D in Neuroscience at King's College London. She currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at NWPharma Tech and Research Director at Heroic Hearts Project, a charity that supports combat veterans with mental health challenges resulting from trauma. Grace is also the founder of Hystelica, a company advancing and advocating for understanding of safe and effective psychedelic use for women.

Psychedelics and Women’s Health: Bridging the Research Gap

The discussion focuses on the critical need to integrate sex-specific factors into psychedelic research. It highlights how hormonal fluctuations, such as those during ovarian cycles, affect brain function, stress responses, and mental health, creating unique considerations for women in the use of psychedelics. It explores overlooked dynamics, such as the influence of menstrual cycles on study outcomes, and the risks of gender-agnostic research approaches. Additionally, it identifies opportunities for psychedelics to address conditions like premenstrual dysphoric disorder, menopause symptoms, and postpartum challenges. This emphasizes the importance of inclusive, gender-conscious research to ensure safer, more effective, and transformative solutions for women’s health.