Leading psychedelic researcher joins MCG to advance mental healthcare

Matthew W. Johnson, PhD, a nationally recognized expert in psychedelic research, has joined the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University to lead a new program focused on innovative treatments for psychiatric and substance use disorders.

Johnson comes to Augusta after more than two decades at Johns Hopkins University, where he was a pioneering member of the institution’s psychedelic research program beginning in 2004 and helped shape the modern resurgence of psychedelic science. He is also known for his research in psychopharmacology, behavioral economics and addiction science.

Psychedelic therapies have emerged as a promising new frontier in mental healthcare because early clinical studies suggest they may help address conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction in ways that differ from traditional treatments, particularly for patients who have not responded to existing therapies. While often associated with recreational drug use, these compounds are increasingly being studied in carefully controlled clinical settings for their potential therapeutic effects in patients with psychiatric and substance use disorders.

At MCG, Johnson will build a program that integrates patient care, clinical trials and translational research in psychedelic and related therapeutics. The program will also enhance training opportunities for psychiatry residents, fellows and junior faculty through hands-on participation in clinical research, exposure to emerging therapies and mentorship from leading investigators in a rapidly evolving field. Johnson’s expertise in substance use disorders is also expected to strengthen MCG’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship and foster interdisciplinary collaboration across psychiatry, neurology, family medicine and palliative care.

“This recruitment represents an extraordinary opportunity to advance research, expand treatment options for patients and provide our trainees with access to cutting-edge science and clinical innovation,” said Boadie Dunlop, MD, chair of the MCG Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior. “As psychiatric illness and substance use disorders continue to affect millions of Americans, this program will help position MCG at the forefront of research into emerging therapies for complex mental health and addiction-related conditions.”