The Psychedelics and Contemplation Lab is a collaborative, multidisciplinary space examining the phenomenology of non-ordinary states of consciousness and how these states can inform novel clinical interventions.
Co-directed by Dr. Kyle Greenway and Dr. Michael Lifshitz, the lab takes a synergistic approach to research. Dr. Greenway鈥檚 work, conducted with patients from non-idealized clinical populations, explores the impacts of extra-pharmacological factors on psychedelic and conventional psychiatric treatments, including how treatment protocols can be tailored to individuals based on their unique life experiences and cultures. Dr. Lifshitz鈥檚 research combines phenomenology, neuroscience, and ethnography to shed light on the plasticity of consciousness. Specifically, he studies how mind-body practices like meditation, prayer, psychedelics and placebos can shape perception and the sense of self.
Dr. Lifshitz and Dr. Greenway approach their research through a relational and interpersonal lens, strive for ecological validity, and value rigorous study to continuously improve how research is conducted and reported. Using these guiding principles, the Psychedelics and Contemplation Lab draws from clinical and contemplative frameworks to better understand the individual and environmental factors that influence subjective experience. This collaborative knowledge allows the lab to inform and improve observation and intervention.