Tommaso Barba
Tommaso Barba is a researcher at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, under the supervision of Dr. David Erritzoe and Prof. David Nutt, one of the most influential psychopharmacologists and a key figure in research on the use of psychoactive substances in psychiatry. His work focuses on the study of psychedelic substances, exploring their potential in treating mental health disorders and redefining the paradigms of modern psychiatry. Tommaso has co-authored more than ten scientific publications, five of which as the first author, in high-impact journals such as Nature Scientific Reports and The Lancet EClinical Medicine, focusing on the efficacy of psychedelics compared to traditional antidepressants in treating depression. His work has gained widespread recognition and has been featured in international and national media outlets such as Forbes USA , The Times, Rolling Stone (international and Italian editions), CNN, Women’s Health, La Repubblica, La Stampa, and Rolling Stone Italia. Currently, Tommaso coordinates the largest human neuroimaging study on 5-MeO-DMT, the most potent known psychedelic substance, with results expected by 2026. Thanks to his research and dedication to science communication, Tommaso has received prestigious awards, including the Public Engagement Prize from Imperial College London, the Poster Award from the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), and the British Journal of Psychiatry Award for his study "Effects of psilocybin versus escitalopram on rumination and thought suppression in depression."