SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — In a groundbreaking partnership, the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre has teamed up with Psylo, a global biotech startup and pioneer in non-hallucinogenic psychedelic drugs, to develop innovative treatments for psychiatric and neurological disorders. This collaboration leverages the university’s research expertise and Psylo’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) platform to create life-changing therapeutics.
The initiative, led by Dr. Nick Everett, a Research Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leader at the University of Sydney’s School of Psychology, underscores the university’s commitment to translating academic research into practical, real-world solutions. Dr. Everett, an expert in behavioral neuroscience, has developed machine-learning-guided behavioral analysis technology that uses high frame-rate cameras and sophisticated data-parsing techniques to predict the behavioral profiles and potential therapeutic properties of new drugs.
Psylo will exclusively use this powerful platform to enhance the efficiency of its drug development process. “This partnership with Psylo represents a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to translate academic research into transformative treatments,” said Dr. Everett. “By combining our machine-learning models with Psylo’s cutting-edge platform, we aim to develop more effective and safer treatments for mental health conditions, at a pace faster than previously possible.”
Psylo is at the forefront of developing novel medicines that target the body’s serotonin receptors to treat central nervous system disorders. Their focus is on ‘non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonists,’ compounds that activate the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, similar to traditional psychedelics but without psychoactive effects. These compounds have shown promise in preclinical studies for their antidepressant effects and ability to promote neuroplasticity.
Chief Scientific Officer at Psylo and University of Sydney alumnus, Dr. Samuel Banister, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: “Our proprietary computational platform has successfully optimized next-generation drug candidates that retain the therapeutic benefits of natural psychedelics in preclinical models. The expertise provided by Dr. Everett and the University will be invaluable in accelerating the translation of these compounds into viable treatments for patients.”
This partnership comes at a crucial time, as Australia has recently become the first country to allow psilocybin and MDMA to be prescribed for the treatment of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the high cost of these treatments—estimated at more than $20,000 per course—makes them inaccessible to most. Psylo aims to bridge this gap by offering more cost-effective solutions that retain the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics without the need for specialized administration under clinical supervision.
Psylo CEO Josh Ismin highlighted the potential impact of their work: “The treatments we are developing could redefine how we treat depression, anxiety, and other central nervous system disorders. Through this partnership, we can use machine-learning approaches to expedite the development of these promising therapeutics to address this tremendous unmet need.” Psylo is on track to begin its first human clinical trials next year.
This collaboration, funded through the Brain and Mind Centre’s Partnership Grant scheme, exemplifies the successful trajectory of university-industry partnerships. Similar to the University’s collaboration with Kinoxis Therapeutics, in which Dr. Everett has also played a significant role, this new venture with Psylo could become a landmark in psychiatric medicine, showcasing the University’s pivotal role in fostering innovation to address significant public health challenges.
Related topics:
