National Institutes of Health psilocybin research speaker series: State of the science, regulatory and policy landscape, research gaps, and opportunities.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened a seminal first ever psychedelic drug substance-focused speaker series, from April 22 to June 10, 2021, titled the "NIH Psilocybin Research Speaker Series." This speaker series provided evidence-based scientific information to the public and the scientific community. Its aims were to assess the current state of the science, the regulatory and policy landscape, as well as to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding, ultimately serving to define future research needs. The highlights of the lectures and discussion from 26 national and international distinguished experts served as the basis for this Special Issue of Neuropharmacology. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".