MARK A. GEYER, PhD

TREASURER, CO-FOUNDER

Mark A. Geyer PhD is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences Emeritus and Founding Director of the Center for Psychedelic Research at the University of California San Diego. He previously directed the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit of the VISN 22 VA’s Mental Illness Research, Clinical, and Education Center and served as the Vice-Chair for Scientific Affairs in the UCSD Department of Psychiatry. Since receiving his doctorate in Psychology in 1972, he has focused on basic research addressing the behavioral and neurobiological effects of psychedelics and other psychoactive drugs. Since 1981, his group has had continuous funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study the behavioral effects of psychedelics. Dr. Geyer is internationally known for his research on the psychophysiology, neurobiology, and pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He has published over 540 peer-reviewed papers and reviews, including many addressing the mechanisms subserving the effects of psychostimulants, psychedelics, and entactogens. From 2009 to 2023,he was the lead Series Editor for Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, which has completed 65+ volumes. He was involved intensively in the NIMH-funded MATRICS, TURNS, and CNTRICS Programs. He has served as a receiving Editor of Psychopharmacology, Neuropsychopharmacology, Neuropharmacology, and Schizophrenia Bulletin, and as Scientific Advisor to European Union’s Innovative Medicine Initiative. He is a Fellow of AAAS, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), and American Psychological Society, Past-President of the International Society for Serotonin Research and the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS), and member of the Scientific Council of the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation.  He received the 2011 Bleuler Prize for Research in the Schizophrenias, the 2014 Julius Axelrod Mentorship Award from ACNP, the 2020 IBNS Outstanding Achievement Award, and the 2022 Winter Conference on Brain Research Pioneer Award. Dr. Geyer’s broad experience as a researcher, grant reviewer, journal editor, and teacher lends invaluable scientific and professional expertise to the Institute, as he provides the leadership to support a strong program in the behavioral psychopharmacology and clinical applications of psychedelic agents.