Drummond McCulloch

Scientific interests:

Drummond is a PhD fellow and is part of the Neurograd PhD school at the University of Copenhagen. His research responsibilities are to coordinate GCP controlled clinical trials investigating the occupancy of LSD at the 5-HT2A receptor using simultaneous MRI and positron emission tomography, and persisting effects of psilocybin using functional magnetic resonance imaging. He writes code to perform statistical analyses of neuroimaging data, scans participants as a MR technician, works with senior staff to develop future research projects, and writes and publishes original research papers and reviews in academic journals.
Drummond holds a first-class degree in Pharmacology with Neuroscience from the University of Glasgow, graduating as part of the Head of College Scholar’s list. He has worked in industry to evaluate early drug discovery opportunities in affective disorders such as depression and anxiety. Following this, he moved to a 20-month research-assistant position before beginning his PhD evaluating the effects of 5-HT2A agonists on the brain using clinical neuroimaging. His goal is to develop and optimise psychedelic-based treatments to improve patient outcomes. He is also the scientific secretary for the ECNP Psychedelic transnosological working group.


Biography:

• Butlen-Ducuing, F., McCulloch, D. E-W. … Thirstrup, S. (2023). The therapeutic potential of psychedelics: the European regulatory perspective. The Lancet.

• McCulloch, D. E-W. … Fisher, P. M. (2022). Psychedelic resting-state neuroimaging: a review and perspective on balancing replication and novel analyses. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews.

• McCulloch, D. E-W., Grzywacz, M. Z… Stenbæk, D. S. (2022). Psilocybin-induced mystical-type experiences are Related to Persisting Positive Effects: A Quantitative and Qualitative Report. Frontiers in Pharmacology.

• McCulloch, D. E-W. … Fisher, P. M. (2021). Lasting effects of a single psilocybin dose on resting-state functional connectivity in healthy individuals. Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Conferences:

• European College for Neuropsychopharmacology 2022 – Poster/Speaker: Acute psilocybin effects on functional brain entropy in healthy volunteers
• Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research 2022 – Speaker: Psychedelic resting-state neuroimaging: A review and perspective on balancing replication and novel analyses
• uniMIND 2022 – Speaker: Psilocybin-Induced Mystical-Type Experiences are Related to Persisting Positive Effects: A Quantitative and Qualitative Investigation
• European College for Neuropsychopharmacology 2021 – Poster: Persisting effects of psilocybin on functional brain connectivity

Awards:

2022     1^st place Rigshospitalet Young Researchers Poster and Presentation Competition
2022     36-month PhD salary grant from COMPASS Pathways
2021     Rigshospitalets Jubilæumsfond travel grant
2020     20-month salary grant from COMPASS Pathways
2018     John Hunter Medal for the highest average grade in Pharmacology