Research, writing, and speaking
For most of my career I've moved between the therapy room and the research lab. My scholarship focuses on social support and therapeutic alliance in mental health and psychedelic-assisted therapy, and on equity, liberation, and access, particularly for LGBTQIA+, gender-expansive, and Spanish-speaking communities who are too often left out of this research.
Find my work:
Peer-reviewed journal articles
Gaughan, S. J., Sevelius, J. M., Lancelotta, R., Anderson, K. D., Davis, A. K., Wootton, A. R., Krantz, D., & James, J. E. (2026). Transgender and gender-expansive psychedelic users' concerns about colonization, racism, and medicalization in western psychedelic science. Psychedelics, 100011.
Lancelotta, R. L., Nagib, P. B., Armstrong, S. B., Levin, A. W., & Davis, A. K. (2026). Development and assessment of a psychedelic-assisted therapy music playlist for clinical trials: Theory, intentionality, and metrics. Journal of Psychedelic Studies.
Ortiz Bernal, A. M., Raison, C. L., Lancelotta, R. L., Timmermann, C., Sepeda, N. D., & Davis, A. K. (2025). Reactivations associated with the use of 5-MeO-DMT among Spanish-speaking individuals: Prevalence, predictors, and emotional valence. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
Lancelotta, R., DellaCrosse, M., Quinn, D., Saniyah, S., Saniyah, M., Gukasyan, N., Narayan, S., Nikolaidis, A., Sevelius, J., & Davis, A. K. (2025). Exploring self-reported effects of naturalistic psychedelic use among gender and sexual minorities: A quantitative survey study. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
Gaughan, S. J., Wootton, A. R., Krantz, D., Davis, A. K., James, J. E., Rinaldi-Rose, R., Lancelotta, R., & Sevelius, J. M. (2025). Naturalistic psychedelic experiences and gender-based self-acceptance in transgender and gender-expansive people. International Journal of Transgender Health.
Levin, A. W., Lancelotta, R., Sepeda, N. D., Gukasyan, N., Nayak, S., Wagener, T. L., Barrett, F. S., Griffiths, R. R., & Davis, A. K. (2024). The therapeutic alliance between study participants and intervention facilitators is associated with acute effects and clinical outcomes in a psilocybin-assisted therapy trial for major depressive disorder. PLOS ONE, 19(3), e0300501.
Nikolaidis, A., Lancelotta, R., Gukasyan, N., Griffiths, R. R., Barrett, F. S., & Davis, A. K. (2023). Subtypes of the psychedelic experience have reproducible and predictable effects on depression and anxiety symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 324, 239–249.
Davis, A. K., Levin, A. W., Nagib, P. B., Armstrong, S. B., & Lancelotta, R. L. (2023). Study protocol of an open-label proof-of-concept trial examining the safety and clinical efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans with PTSD. BMJ Open, 13(5), e068884.
Davis, A. K., Timmermann, C., Ortiz Bernal, A. M., Lancelotta, R., Nayak, S., Sepeda, N. D., Nikolaidis, A., & Griffiths, R. R. (2023). Translation and initial psychometric evaluation of Spanish versions of three psychedelic acute effects measures: Mystical, challenging, and insight experiences. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
Lancelotta, R. (2022). 5-MeO-DMT has not been found in traditional ayahuasca preparations and the combination of 5-MeO-DMT with MAOIs is dangerous. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 37(3), e2839.
Reckweg, J. T., Uthaug, M. V., Szabo, A., Davis, A. K., Lancelotta, R., Mason, N. L., & Ramaekers, J. G. (2022). The clinical pharmacology and potential therapeutic applications of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT). Journal of Neurochemistry.
Ortiz Bernal, A. M., Raison, C. L., Lancelotta, R. L., & Davis, A. K. (2022). Reactivations after 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine use in naturalistic settings: An initial exploratory analysis of the phenomenon's predictors and its emotional valence. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13.
Agin-Liebes, G., Haas, T. F., Lancelotta, R., Uthaug, M. V., Ramaekers, J. G., & Davis, A. K. (2021). Naturalistic use of mescaline is associated with self-reported psychiatric improvements and enduring positive life changes. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science.
Uthaug, M. V., Davis, A. K., Haas, T. F., Davis, D., Dolan, S. B., Lancelotta, R., Timmermann, C., & Ramaekers, J. G. (2021). The epidemiology of mescaline use: Pattern of use, motivations for consumption, and perceived consequences, benefits, and acute and enduring subjective effects. Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Uthaug, M. V., Lancelotta, R., Szabo, A., Davis, A. K., Riba, J., & Ramaekers, J. G. (2020). Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: Effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment. Psychopharmacology, 237(3), 773–785.
Lancelotta, R. L., & Davis, A. K. (2020). Use of benefit enhancement strategies among 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) users: Associations with mystical, challenging, and enduring effects. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
Uthaug, M. V., Lancelotta, R., Ortiz Bernal, A. M., Davis, A. K., & Ramaekers, J. G. (2020). A comparison of reactivation experiences following vaporization and intramuscular injection (IM) of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in a naturalistic setting. Journal of Psychedelic Studies.
Luoma, J. B., Chwyl, C., Bathje, G. J., Davis, A. K., & Lancelotta, R. (2020). A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
Uthaug, M., Lancelotta, R., van Oorsouw, K., Kuypers, K., Mason, N. L., Rak, J., Šuláková, A., Jurok, R., Maryška, M., Kuchař, M., Páleníček, T., Riba, J., & Ramaekers, J. M. (2019). A single inhalation of vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in a naturalistic setting is related to sustained enhancement of satisfaction with life, mindfulness-related capacities, and a decrement of psychopathological symptoms. Psychopharmacology.
Sepeda, N. D., Clifton, J. M., Doyle, L. Y., Lancelotta, R., Griffiths, R. R., & Davis, A. K. (2019). Inhaled 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine: Supportive context associated with positive acute and enduring effects. Journal of Psychedelic Studies.
Davis, A. K., Barsuglia, J. P., Lancelotta, R., Grant, R., & Renn, E. (2018). The epidemiology of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) use: Benefits, consequences, patterns of use, subjective effects, and reasons for consumption. Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Davis, A. K., So, S., Lancelotta, R., Barsuglia, J., & Griffiths, R. (2018). 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
Barsuglia, J., Davis, A. K., Palmer, R., Lancelotta, R., Windham-Herman, A., Peterson, K., Polanco, M., Grant, M., & Griffiths, R. (2018). Intensity of mystical experiences occasioned by 5-MeO-DMT and comparison with a prior psilocybin study. Frontiers in Psychology.
Book chapters
Lancelotta, R., & Davis, A. K. (2021). Therapeutic potential of fast-acting synthetic tryptamines. In C. S. Grob & J. Grigsby (Eds.), Handbook of Medical Hallucinogens. The Guilford Press.
Manuscripts under review
Armstrong, S. B., Levin, A. W., Sepeda, N. D., Shaub, H., Hunter, T., Douglas, A., Lancelotta, R., & Davis, A. K. (2025). Safety and efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD. Communications Medicine. (Under review.)
Davis, A. K., Wagener, T., Shields, P., Andersen, B., Armstrong, S., Levin, A., Sloan, R., Pham, M., Reisinger, S., Lancelotta, R., Shaub, H., Douglas, A., Hunter, T., Cassidy, E., Ellis, S., & Kusiak, E. (2026). Study protocol for an open-label Phase II proof-of-concept trial exploring the safety, acceptability, and efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy among non-small cell lung cancer patients with major depressive disorder. PLOS ONE. (Under review.)
Manuscripts in preparation
Lancelotta, R. L., McInroy, L., Sevelius, J., Warren, K., Hunter, T., & Davis, A. K. Extrapharmacological factors in psychedelic research: An ecological systems scoping review.
Lancelotta, R., Sevelius, J., McInroy, L., Warren, K., & Davis, A. K. Social support change mediates the effects of meaningful psychedelic experiences on mental health among LGBTQIA+ adults.
Lancelotta, R., Sevelius, J., McInroy, L., Warren, K., & Davis, A. K. Changes in perceived social support are associated with PTSD symptom reduction in a psilocybin-assisted therapy trial for veterans: An exploratory secondary analysis.
Lancelotta, R., Harrison, T., So, S., Williams, K., & Devenot, N. Liberation perspectives on psychedelic research methodology.
Selected talks
A few recorded highlights. For the complete list of presentations, panels, and guest lectures, see my full CV (PDF).
- Passing the Torch: The Importance of Student Education and Involvement for the Future of Psychedelic Studies
- What's Old Is New Again: The Possibility of Psychedelics in Mental Health Treatment
- Therapeutic Potential of Fast-Acting Synthetic Tryptamines
- Somatic-Focused Ketamine & Cannabis-Assisted Therapy for PTSD
- 5-MeO-DMT Use in the Global Population: Insights and Perspectives for Further Clinical Development
- Characterization of Mystical Experiences Occasioned by 5-MeO-DMT and Comparison with Prior Psilocybin Studies
Recent invited & conference talks (not all recorded publicly): Psychedelic Science 2025 (Denver), USPATH 2025 (New Mexico), and ICPR 2026 (Haarlem, Netherlands).