IMBAS - Psychedelic Research Conference

Irish Doctors for Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Trinity College Dublin Psychedelic Research Group are proud to host IMBAS, Ireland's premier Psychedelic Research Conference, which will take place over 2 days in the Edmund Burke Theatre, Trinity College Dublin, on October 31st and November 1st 2025.

​12 of the world's leading experts will deliver inspiring talks and answer questions on psychedelic assisted therapy.

This year we are introducing our workshop space! We will offer 8 incredible workshops to participate in which will provide a rich and more engaged experience.

Get to know psychedelic culture as well as science, through art and music. VisionEire artists will be showcasing their creations on the theme of Samhain and Imbas Forosnai.

Join us again for a mind-expanding event where researchers, healthcare workers, policymakers, and curious minds come together to explore the world of psychedelics. We are proud to host leading experts from around the world to discuss the latest findings, breakthroughs, and talking points in the field of psychedelic research. The talks will present cutting-edge research while still being accessible to the public. There will be a panel discussion at the end of the day which will allow our audience the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and broaden your horizons!

Lunch, coffees, teas, and snacks provided by KC Peaches.

This conference is approved for 14 CPD points by the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

We will have a poster presentation outside the lecture hall on the day. We invite all those with psychedelic research to send in an abstract to irishdoctors4pat@gmail.com. Please e-mail us for further details on poster guidelines.

PROF DAVID NUTT

Professor David Nutt is one of the most influential neuropsychopharmacologists in the world. He holds the Edmond J. Safra Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology and leads the prestigious Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London. He is Founding Chair of the charity DrugScience.org.uk, former Chair of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, and past President of the European Brain Council, ECNP, BAP, and BNA. With over a thousand peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and popular science publications—including the award-winning Drugs Without the Hot Air—he has profoundly shaped modern brain science.

DR DAVID ERRITZOE 

David Erritzoe is Clinical Director of Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research. He is a consultant psychiatrist at St Charles Hospital where he leads a ground-breaking research initiative that aims to unlock new therapies for mental health and neuroscience. His focus is on experimental psychopharmacology, specifically investigating the effects of classic psychedelics and ketamine in healthy and psychiatric populations. By using cutting-edge imaging methods such as PET, MRI, and EEG, David hopes to uncover the compounds' therapeutic potential and mechanisms, including brain plasticity and psychological flexibility.

DR JAMES RUCKER

James Rucker is an honorary consultant psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. He was awarded an NIHR Clinician Scientist Fellowship in 2017 to investigate the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in a randomised, placebo controlled clinical trial at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. Here, he leads the Psychoactive Trials Group at the Centre for Affective Disorders. His clinical and academic expertise is in mood disorders across the adult lifespan, novel psychopharmacological approaches in resistant forms of depression and related conditions, clinical trials in drug assisted forms of psychotherapy and the use of MDMA, ketamine and cannabinoids to treat mental health conditions. 

DR DAVID LUKE

Dr David Luke is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Greenwich. He is currently a module leader of the Psychology of Exceptional Human Experience. Dr Luke is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London. He is a lecturer on the MSc Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology where he leads and teaches a module on Psychedelics and Entheogens. David's particular interest is in transpersonal experiences, anomalous phenomena and altered states of consciousness. He has published over 100 academic papers and 10 books in this field.

DR CLAUDIA GERTRAUD SCHWARZ

Claudia Schwarz is a pioneering sociologist of science and technology, renowned for her critical and feminist analyses of the social, ethical, and cultural dimensions of emerging scientific fields—most notably psychedelics. With an MA in Media Studies and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Vienna, her work interrogates how psychedelic science is shaped by—and shapes—societal imaginaries, power dynamics, and discourses of healing. She is co-editor of Critical Psychedelic Studies (Special Issue, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 2023), which aims to decolonize and diversify perspectives in psychedelic research.

DR CHRIS TIMMERMAN

Chris Timmermann is a neuroscientist and consciousness researcher at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, where he leads the DMT Research Group. His work explores the effects of DMT on brain activity, cognition, and subjective experience. Using EEG and fMRI alongside in-depth phenomenological interviews, his research seeks to understand the nature of altered states of consciousness and their therapeutic potential. Chris is especially interested in how psychedelics affect our fundamental beliefs about reality, selfhood, and the mind, with his work contributing to broader debates about metaphysics, spirituality, and the science of consciousness.

DR ASHLEIGH MURPHY - BEINER

Ashleigh MurphyBeiner is a trainee clinical psychologist and mindfulness instructor working within a complex trauma service at the UK NHS. She is a member of the Imperial College Centre for Psychedelic Research, where she serves as therapy guide and research lead in the landmark Psilocybin for Depression clinical trial (PsiloDep 2), supporting participants both during and after their psilocybin-assisted therapy journeys. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of trauma recovery, psychedelic therapy, and ethical clinical practice. She has led qualitative research on therapists’ experiences working with individuals with complex trauma, as well as patients’ journeys through psilocybin treatment for both depression and anorexia.

FRANCISCA SILVA

A neuroscientist by training, Francisca now works as Project Officer for PAREA (Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance). In her interdisciplinary academic path, including a dual MSc in Brain and Mind Sciences from University College London (UCL) and Sorbonne Université and a BSc from the Maastricht Science Programme, she delved into various fields of interest, such as molecular biology, neuropsychopharmacology and clinical neurology and neuropsychiatry, and developed a keen appreciation for effective science communication. Her desire to contribute to the translation of science into better care for those in need initially led to her involvement in psychedelics-related initiatives at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), notably the EMA Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Psychedelics held in April 2024.

DR SIMON RUFFELL

Dr Simon Ruffell is a psychiatrist, ayahuasca researcher, and student of curanderismo.
Since 2015 Dr Ruffell has been working closely with Indigenous communities in the Amazon basin, exploring the effects of the traditional psychedelic brew ayahuasca and the role of ceremony and spirit in healing. Dr Ruffell’s work encompasses two paradigms: the spiritual and the scientific. He is committed to working alongside the Shipibo-Konibo people to translate knowledge of Amazonian plant medicines, where possible, into scientific data and terminology whilst ensuring traditions are respected.

DR CELIA MORGAN

Celia Morgan is Chair in Psychopharmacology at University of Exeter. Her prolific research examines both the therapeutic potential and adverse cognitive effects of recreational and clinical drugs. Through behavioral experiments, neuroimaging, and clinical trials, her work has advanced our understanding of substances like ketamine, MDMA, cannabis, and alcohol. She leads major studies such as: KARE: Investigating ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for addiction, BAM: Assessing MDMA’s therapeutic impact, and Exeter Translational Addiction Partnership (ETAP): Bridging neuroscience and clinical applications. With over 400 publications and nearly 9,300 citations to her credit, Professor Morgan is one of the foremost voices in the field.

DAVID SCULLION

“The Hidden Music of Transformation.” This guided meditation and sound journey will offer attendees a unique opportunity to experience how music, breath, and meditative practices can help integrate expanded states of consciousness. By blending the insights of ancient Irish and Eastern traditions with contemporary understandings, this session will provide a restorative, integrative space for participants to reconnect with their own inner rhythms.

CIARA SHERLOCK 

Ciara Sherlock is a multidisciplinary therapist with a decade of experience specialising in psychedelics and bodywork. With a deep understanding of how emotions are stored in the physical body and the healing potential of trauma-informed touch, her intention is to teach the art of presence and holding in a therapeutic space. In her experiential workshop, Ciara will teach the key skills needed to create a conducive therapeutic environment that include : communication, nervous system regulation and simple, supportive touch. Participants will practice body-based tools to use for preparation, navigation and integration of a psychedelic experience.

STELLA TEMIRAEVA 

Stella Temiraeva is a neuroscience graduate, breathwork facilitator and retreat leader working at the intersection of science and spirituality. With training inConscious-Connected Breathwork, Somatic Therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS), she specialises in creating trauma-informed spaces that support nervous system regulation, emotional processing and embodied awareness. Participants will experience how the breath can be used both as a tool for accessing altered states and as a resource for preparation, navigation and integration of psychedelic experiences. Through guided practice and reflection, this workshop invites a deeper understanding of breath as medicine.

MICK LEDDEN 

Mick Ledden is a psychotherapist and a co-founder and the CEO of PsyCare Ireland, the country’s dedicated music festival welfare charity, and a former facilitator with Inwardbound psychedelic retreats. With extensive frontline experience supporting hundreds of people at festivals and in retreat settings, Mick brings a trauma-informed, person-centred approach to psychedelic crisis care.
In his experiential workshop, Mick will explore how to hold space for challenging psychedelic experiences, including resistance to surrender, thought loops, and the resurfacing of trauma. Participants will practice grounding, presence, and containment skills that enable difficult experiences to unfold safely and compassionately, with relevance for clinical, research, and community contexts.

DECLAN HAMMOND 

Declan Hammond is a transpersonal therapist, shamanic practitioner and co-founder and former director of The Irish School of Homeopathy. His life and work has been a passionate search for the most effective healing tools for himself and his patients. This journey has taken him all over the globe studying Eastern and Western approaches to healing, tantra yoga and traditional shamanic medicine practices. Declan has developed a unique synthesis of these ancient and modern healing techniques and works with individuals and groups to empower deep personal growth, healing and spiritual development. He is pioneer in the homeopathic use of entheogenic medicines, such as Ayahuasca, Peyote and Tabernanthe iboga. His passion is working with people challenged by non-ordinary states of consciousness, who are undergoing Spiritual Emergency/Psychosis type experiences. He has a particular interest in drug harm reduction and plant medicine integration work. Declan has been a long-term member of the Kosmicare Medical Team at Boom Festival in Portugal and is a co-founder and chairperson of the Irish festival welfare organisation, Psycare Ireland. 

OONAGH O' SULLIVAN 

Oonagh is a multidisciplinary artist, ritualist, grief-tender, singer, embodiment guide & festival maker from West Kerry, Ireland. She blends her deep love for the human heart & body as part of the web of life, with song as prayer to create spaces of remembrance, connection, expression & belonging. She holds an MA in Ritual Chant & Song from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, where she specialised in the use of ritual song in Irish pre-Christian grief ceremonies called An Caoineadh/keening. Her interest lies on how to contemporise these ancient ways through our bodies and voices during this crisis of unprecedented individual and collective grief. Oonagh loves creating meaningful communal spaces of embodied artistic exploration for co-regulation, creative alchemy and social change.

SANNI WEBER 

Sanni brings over a decade of yoga experience from traditional Ashtanga to trauma-informed yoga. Her teaching bridges the physical and the subtle, honoring yoga as both a path of embodiment and a doorway to inner transformation. This experiential session invites participants into a Heart Space Yoga Nidra practice—blending gentle, heart-opening postures with meditative stillness. We begin by preparing the body through mindful movement to soften physical tension and cultivate openness in the heart center, both somatically and energetically.

ROB O' COBHTHAIGH 

Rob Ó Cobhthaigh co-founded Inwardbound psilocybin retreats in 2018, one of the pioneers of legal psilocybin retreats in the Netherlands. He is an accredited psychotherapist (MIACP) and transpersonal therapist, a graduate of the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Graduate training in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy, and Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) MDMA assisted psychotherapy education programme. He also has qualifications and trainings in transpersonal therapy, jungian psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) for psychedelic-assisted therapy. He as been a student of Amazonian curanderismo for over a decade, having done numerous dietas with the renowned Shipibo curanderas in Peru, and with the Bwiti for Iboga.In his workshop he will be looking at trauma informed care for psychedelic facilitation, and types of psychedelic experiences, based on his experience and case studies at Inwardbound, with over 1000 participants from 20+ countries since 2018". 

EIMEAR BURKE

Eimear will offer a special opening and closing ceremony for the conference. Eimear is the Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) and lives in Kilkenny, Ireland. Eimear has retired from her private practice as a Counselling Psychologist after 33years. Her interests in Druidry and psychology have led her to act as a Celebrant, helping people to design and enact meaningful rites of passage. She is licensed to perform legal weddings in the Republic of Ireland and can also offer non legal ceremonies. Eimear has a deep love of the ancient Irish tales and has a passion for storytelling. She brings the old tales to new audiences, and - while remaining faithful to the stories - often examines them from new perspectives, so that listeners experience them as fresh and relevant. She particularly enjoys showing people the sacred sites of Ireland and telling the ancient tales right where they happened. Eimear is also a Priestess dedicated to Danú in the Fellowship of Isis. She is an Arch Druidess in the Druid Clan of Dana and a member of the Noble Order of Tara.

Friday October 31st:

08:30: Registration

09:15: Opening Ceremony - Eimear Burke

09:30: Introduction

09:40: David Erritzoe 

10:30: Coffee break

11:00: James Rucker 

11:50: Break

12:00: Francisca Silva

13:00: Lunch

14:00: Celia Morgan

15:00: Coffee break

15:30: David Nutt 

16:30: Panel Discussion + Audience Questions

18:00: David Scullion - "The Hidden Music of Transformation.” Guided meditation and sound journey

Friday Workshop Schedule:

 11:00: Ciara Sherlock - The Art of Bodywork in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

 12:00: Oonagh O' Sullivan -  Grief, Ritual & Altered States of Consciousness

 13:00: Lunch

 14:00: Declan Hammond, Timmy Davis - When things go wrong, how to deal with adverse outcomes in psychedelic therapy

 15:00: Coffee break

 15:30: Stella Temiraeva - Breathwork for Non-Ordinary States & Integration

 Saturday November 1st

08:30: Registration

09:30: Introduction

09:40: Chris Timmermann

10:30: Coffee break

11:00: Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner

11:50: Break

12:00: Simon Ruffell 

13:00: Lunch

14:00: David Luke

15:00: Coffee break

15:30: Claudia Gertraud Schwarz

16:30: Panel Discussion + Audience Questions

17:30: Closing ceremony - Eimear Burke

Saturday Workshop Schedule:

09:30: Sanni Weber - Heart Space Yoga Nidra

10:30: Coffee break

11:00: Rob O' Cobhthaigh, Ashleigh Murphy Beiner, Timmy Davis - Trauma informed Psychedelic integration

13:00: Lunch

14:00: Psycare - "Holding Space" - Supporting Psychedelic Crises

15:00: Coffee break

15:30: Kat Ledden, John Kelly - Future of PAT in Ireland