Joshua Woolley

Dr. Joshua Woolley is an Associate Professor in Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and a staff psychiatrist at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC). He serves as Director of the Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program at UCSF, bringing together scientists and care providers to investigate psychedelic compounds including psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. He is Board Certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has received numerous awards for his teaching excellence.

• University of California, San Francisco - M.D. (2007)
• University of California, San Francisco - Ph.D. (2005)
• Brown University - B.S. in Biology and Philosophy (1999)

Dr. Woolley's research spans multiple domains within neuropsychopharmacology, with a primary focus on psychedelic-assisted therapy for various mental health conditions. His work investigates the therapeutic mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine for disorders including depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia. He has made significant contributions to understanding oxytocin's role in social cognition, particularly in schizophrenia and PTSD. His research integrates neurobiological, psychological, and clinical perspectives to develop novel treatment approaches for complex psychiatric conditions. Dr. Woolley is particularly interested in how psychedelic compounds affect emotional processing, social cognition, and neural circuitry underlying psychiatric symptoms.

Analysis of Dr. Woolley's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on psychedelic clinical trials methodology, addressing critical issues such as informed consent protocols, participant diversity, and safety considerations for specific populations. His work spans from basic neuroscience investigations of oxytocin mechanisms to large-scale clinical trials of psychedelic therapies. The research demonstrates growing interest in applying psychedelic-assisted therapy to traditionally underserved populations including veterans, adolescents, and patients with complex comorbid conditions.

• NARSAD Young Investigator Award from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
• Young Investigator Award
• Travel awards from the California Society for Addiction Medicine
• Travel awards from the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology
• Travel awards from the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
• Associate Member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology

As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Woolley has guided over 30 postdoctoral fellows and 8 junior faculty members throughout his career. He serves as Associate Director of the Psychosis Clinic at the SFVA, where he supervises medical students, psychiatry residents, and clinical fellows. His research is supported by multiple funding sources including the Department of Veteran Affairs, Department of Defense, philanthropic organizations, and industry partnerships, demonstrating the translational impact of his work. Dr. Woolley has also contributed to medical education as Co-Director of the first-year medical school psychiatry course Brain Mind and Behavior.

Dr. Woolley directs the Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program at UCSF, which brings together interdisciplinary teams of scientists, clinicians, and care providers to advance psychedelic medicine. His laboratory investigates both the basic mechanisms of psychedelic compounds and their clinical applications, with particular attention to optimizing therapeutic protocols and understanding individual differences in treatment response. The program collaborates with researchers across multiple institutions to conduct rigorous clinical trials while addressing ethical and practical implementation challenges in real-world healthcare settings.