Northwell Health’s Manhasset-based Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has opened the Center for Psychedelics Research and Treatment (CPRT) at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, on the Queens-Nassau County border. The facility is dedicated to advancing the understanding and application of psychedelic agents for severe mental health and substance use disorders.
For some people, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse disorders can be difficult to treat. Increasingly, experts say that under careful supervision, cannabis, psilocybin (mushrooms), MDMA (ecstasy), and ketamine—substances often linked to recreational use—can provide therapeutic benefits. To study the effects on real-world social environments, the lab includes a driving simulator, modular bar, and living room spaces. High-tech cameras and control rooms were installed so researchers can safely study the effects of the compounds.
Leading the initiative are behavioral health researchers Dr. John Kane and Nehal Vadhan. Within five years, the CPRT plans to complete its initial research, begin larger federally supported studies, and launch a clinical treatment program. Initial projects include a clinical trial examining the efficacy of psilocybin for individuals with social and generalized anxiety disorders, and a collaborative study with UCLA assessing the safety and tolerability of MDMA in patients with schizophrenia to inform the design of future trials.
The center aims to serve as a key resource for education, support, and collaboration, with efforts focused on increasing public understanding and reducing stigma related to these therapies. Over the next decade, plans include expanding the facility, establishing satellite programs across Northwell campuses, and hosting regional and national conferences focused on psychedelic research. Philanthropic support from the Feinstein Health Fund, along with contributions from the Feinstein Institutes and Northwell’s Department of Psychiatry, helped develop the lab.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://libn.com/2026/01/28/northwell-opens-psychedelic-research-center-for-mental-health/