Franz Vollenweider

Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry

Data updated

Papers

70 publications

Trials

0 clinical trials

Research Footprint

Franz Vollenweider appears in 70 tracked papers (1997–2026), most studied alongside Psilocybin, LSD and MDMA, across Healthy Volunteers, Neuroimaging & Brain Measures and Schizophrenia.

Most-cited paper: Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action (1017 citations).

Frequent co-authors: Katrin Preller, Erich Seifritz and Matthias Kometer.

Background & Research

Franz Vollenweider is a Swiss psychiatrist and a pioneer in the study of altered states of consciousness. He is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Zurich and the Director of the Heffter Research Center Zurich. His work has been fundamental in mapping the effects of psilocybin and LSD on the human brain using advanced neuroimaging, contributing significantly to our understanding of the serotonin system and the neurobiology of psychosis.

Key Impact

Key figure in brain imaging research and director of the Heffter Research Center Zurich.

70

Research Papers

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0

Clinical Trials

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Collaboration Network

49 collaborators· click a node to visit their profile

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Compounds

PsilocybinLSDMDMAPlaceboKetamineDMT

Topics

Healthy VolunteersNeuroimaging & Brain MeasuresSchizophreniaAnxiety DisordersDepressive DisordersInterpersonal Functioning & Social ConnectednessSubstance Use Disorders (SUD)Personality & Trait FactorsMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)Neurocognitive DisordersSafety & Risk ManagementAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD)Equity and EthicsBipolar DisorderMicrodosingSet & SettingMedicinal Chemistry & Drug DevelopmentBorderline Personality Disorder (BPD)Personality DisordersChronic PainAdolescentsTreatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)PTSDAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)Creativity

Top Collaborators

Affiliations

Institutions, companies, and organisations Franz Vollenweider is associated with.

University of Zurich

academic

Within the 'Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics' at the University of Zurich, Dr Milan Scheidegger is leading a team conducting psychedelic research and therapy development. Researchers here are investigating the therapeutic potential of psychedelics to reverse maladaptive neurobehavioral patterns in stress-related mood disorders and to enhance psychotherapeutic learning capabilities.

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Usona Institute

Non-Profit

Usona Institute is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit medical research organisation headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Usona develops and supports clinical research on psilocybin and other consciousness-expanding medicines with a mission-driven access model. Its psilocybin programme received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for major depressive disorder in 2019. After completing the Phase 2 PSIL201 study, Usona launched the Phase 3 uAspire trial in 2024, a 240-participant randomised, double-blind multicentre study of 25 mg psilocybin with psychosocial support for adults with MDD. In April 2026, industry reporting said Usona confirmed it had received an FDA Commissioner National Priority Voucher for psilocybin in MDD, potentially shortening review if an NDA is filed and accepted. Usona is also exploring 5-MeO-DMT in early-stage research.

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