Stephen Ross

Stephen Ross is a psychiatrist and clinical researcher based at NYU Langone who has been a prominent investigator in contemporary clinical research on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. He trained and practised in general and addiction psychiatry and has led and co‑authored multiple clinical trials and follow‑up studies examining psilocybin for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life‑threatening cancer, for alcohol use disorder, and for changes in religious and spiritual attitudes. His work blends controlled clinical trial methodology with detailed qualitative and phenomenological analyses of patient experience.
Ross's contributions include designing and running early-phase clinical protocols, publishing long‑term follow‑up and individual case analyses, and exploring therapeutic mechanisms such as mystical‑type and meaning‑making experiences. He has collaborated with other major figures and centres in the field (including multi‑site teams) and has emphasised careful safety monitoring, integration work, and clinical interpretation of subjective outcomes. His scholarship and public engagement have helped shape clinical and ethical conversations about the therapeutic use of psychedelic compounds in psychiatry.