For many years, research on mushrooms containing psilocybin was limited. As a result, our knowledge about their full composition and effects remains incomplete.
“Only recently has research on psilocybin, a substance found in some Psilocybe species, resumed,” explains Prof. Jakub Piwowarski. “Studies have shown its potential clinical application in treating treatment-resistant depression. However, it is still unclear why a single dose of psilocybin can produce long-lasting therapeutic effects, and the chemical structure and pharmacological properties of other compounds present in mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus remain unknown.”
What will be investigated within the project
As part of the project, the research team will:
- identify active compounds present in the fruiting bodies of Psilocybe,
- examine how the gut microbiota metabolizes these substances and how they affect the composition of the microbiome,
- assess their effects on the intestinal barrier, the blood-brain barrier, and neuroinflammatory processes (in vitro studies),
- investigate their effects in a depression model, taking into account the gut-microbiota-brain axis (in vivo studies).
A chance to advance therapies for mental disorders
Combining chemical, microbiological, and neurobiological research will help better understand the effects of compounds found in Psilocybe mushrooms and explain the effectiveness of psilocybin in treating treatment-resistant depression. The project may also identify new therapeutic targets for psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders and help develop personalized therapeutic support by modulating the gut microbiota.
“The PsiloBiota project will let us open a new chapter in research on mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus, contributing to the ongoing renaissance of studies on psychoplastogens, which offer breakthrough possibilities for treating psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases resistant to current therapeutic strategies,” says Prof. Jakub Piwowarski.
About the SONATA BIS competition
The SONATA BIS competition plays an important role in the structure of Polish science. It enables researchers who are 5 to 12 years after obtaining their PhD to establish their own independent research group and carry out ambitious basic research projects lasting three to five years.
In the 15th edition of the SONATA BIS competition, NCN received 481 proposals. Funding was awarded to 70 projects with a total value exceeding PLN 223.7 million.