Psychedelics and the Female experience – Interview with Grace Blest-Hopley, PhD

Women make up more than half of the population, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in psychedelic research. At ICPR 2026, we spoke with neuroscientist Grace Blest-Hopley about the gender gap in psychedelic science, the importance of studying menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, and women’s mental health, and how the field can become more inclusive and scientifically rigorous.



Chapters

00:00 Intro
00:30 Could you introduce yourself?
02:56 Why are military and psychedelic research male-dominated?
06:08 How do gender differences appear in psychedelic trials?
07:31 How do biology and hormones shape psychedelic experiences?
11:18 Do trial designers understand these gender differences?
12:45 Do women and men report psychedelic experiences differently?
15:48 Could psychedelics help with postpartum depression or menopause?
21:15 What are the key frontiers for future research?
24:14 What is Hystelica and what are its goals?
26:57 Do you meet resistance or openness in academia?
29:44 Could future clinics focus on menopause or women’s health?


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