Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology (Liechti)

Matthias E. Liechti is the head of the Clinical Pharmacology Division and a professor for clinical pharmacology and internal medicine at the University Hospital Basel. With his psychopharmacology research group at the Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, Matthias Liechti investigates the pharmacology of psychoactive substances both in vitro and in humans. The group is best known for the work on the acute effects of MDMA (ecstasy) and psychedelics including LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline in humans. The team also characterizes the pharmacology of the constantly emerging novel psychoactive substances (designer drugs) using in vitro methods. In experimental clinical studies, the team investigates the clinical pharmacology of psychedelics and MDMA. The team also conducted Pharmaco-fMRI studies and phase 2 studies with LSD in patients with anxiety disorder, major depression, cluster headache, and ADHD in collaboration with the respective disease specialists. The group closely collaborates with other academic researchers in Switzerland and with pharmaceutical companies.