ALTEREDSTATES: Tufts Psychedelic Research Conference 2025

ALTEREDSTATES 2025: Tufts Psychedelic Research Conference, scheduled for Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 10am to 5pm at Robinson Hall in Medford, Massachusetts, examines psychedelic medicine as it transitions from decades of prohibition into a new era of clinical legitimacy. This interdisciplinary conference brings together leading voices from anthropology, medicine, psychology, religion, and the arts to explore how diverse ways of knowing can inform the responsible integration of psychedelic therapies into modern healthcare. The event is co-sponsored by multiple departments at Tufts School of Arts and Sciences, including Anthropology, Biology, Environmental Studies, Psychology, and Religion, reflecting the broad scope of perspectives represented.

The day-long program features presentations that bridge the boundaries between laboratory and ceremony, clinic and community. Distinguished speakers will examine how Indigenous practices inform contemporary therapeutic protocols, how religious traditions shape our understanding of consciousness and healing, and how principles of harm reduction learned from ceremonial contexts can guide clinical applications. The speaker lineup includes Nate Greenslit, PhD from Berklee College of Music, Jenna Clukey from Massachusetts General Hospital, Andrea Sánchez-Castañeda, PhD from the Center for World Religions at Harvard University, Daniel A. Brenner, MD from Cambridge Biotherapies, Frédérique Apffel-Marglin, PhD from Sachamama Center for BioCultural Regeneration, Chloe Jordan, PhD from Boston University, Carolina Haas-Koffler, PharmD, PhD from Brown University, and Maha Mian, PhD from Suffolk University.

The conference explores a range of topics including current clinical trials and their implications for treatment protocols, Indigenous knowledge systems and their contributions to therapeutic and restorative justice practices, and the religious and spiritual dimensions of psychedelic healing. Attendees will learn about community-based harm reduction models and their clinical applications, as well as clinical trial progress on psilocybin as a therapeutic for irritable bowel syndrome. The event offers breakfast, lunch, and networking opportunities in the TTC atrium, with presentations taking place in Robinson 253. The gathering addresses the multifaceted nature of psychedelic medicine, bringing together scientific research and Indigenous wisdom as participants explore culturally informed therapeutic practices.