Breakthrough Funding: Canadian Cancer Society Invests $5 Million in Psychedelic Therapy Research

In a landmark move that signals a significant shift in mainstream acceptance of psychedelic medicine, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has awarded a $5 million grant to fund groundbreaking research on psychedelic-assisted therapy for cancer patients. This historic investment—the largest ever for psychedelic research in Canada—aims to explore how compounds like psilocybin can help alleviate the profound emotional distress often experienced by people living with advanced cancer. The grant establishes the Canadian Network for Psychedelic-Assisted Cancer Therapy (CAN-PACT), a nationwide collaboration that will bring together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and patients to advance the field of psychedelic medicine in cancer care. Led by Dr. Linda Carlson of the University of Calgary and Dr. Ronald Shore from Queen's University, this ambitious five-year initiative represents a watershed moment in the integration of psychedelic therapy into conventional healthcare. "This is the largest grant in psychedelic-assisted therapy in Canadian history... it's actually one of the largest in North America," said Dr. Carlson, an oncology professor at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine. The funding is part of a larger $17.9 million investment by the CCS, broken into three Breakthrough Team Grants, with Brain Canada serving as a supporting partner.

Addressing the Emotional Burden of Advanced Cancer

For many people with advanced cancer—defined as cancer that has spread either locally or to different organs in the body—the psychological impact can be as devastating as the physical symptoms. Anxiety about end of life, fear of death, demoralization, and loss of hope are common experiences that can significantly diminish quality of life. "Those types of cancers, a person can potentially live with it for many years, but it's not curable... it's eventually going to come back," explained Dr. Carlson. "Sometimes, patients can become very discouraged and demoralized amid the uncertainty as to what's going to happen when the cancer comes back. "This existential distress can lead to depression, social isolation, and in some cases, consideration of medical assistance in dying. Conventional treatments for psychological distress, while helpful for many, don't always adequately address these profound existential concerns.

The Promise of Psilocybin Therapy

Emerging research suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly with psilocybin (the active compound in "magic mushrooms"), may offer a novel approach to addressing this emotional suffering. Unlike traditional psychiatric medications that often require daily dosing for months or years, psilocybin therapy typically involves just one or two high-dose sessions, combined with preparatory and integration therapy. "Research on psilocybin in particular has shown that with one high dose, typically 25 milligrams, along with a few sessions of supportive psychotherapy can create a complete reversal of the negative feelings," Dr. Carlson noted. "People have had a complete lifting of all these fears... they have sometimes a mystical experience where they feel at peace, they feel calm. "Perhaps most remarkably, the benefits from a single dose can be very long-lasting, with some studies indicating positive effects persisting for multiple years. This durability of effect represents a paradigm shift in mental health treatment, particularly for those with limited time due to advanced illness.

Building a National Infrastructure

What sets CAN-PACT apart from previous psychedelic research initiatives is its comprehensive, nationwide approach. Rather than simply conducting another clinical trial, the project aims to build the infrastructure necessary to eventually integrate psychedelic therapy into Canada's healthcare system. The five-year program will unfold in carefully planned phases. During the first two years, the team will focus on building a network of stakeholders, defining research priorities, and developing training and education curriculum for healthcare providers. Clinical trials are expected to begin in the third year, with the ultimate goal of conducting a large multi-site trial to assess the effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with advanced cancer. "It's going to have a lot more thoughtfulness behind it," said Dr. Shore. "As a researcher, it's super exciting to be part of this." A key component of the initiative will be the development of evidence-based guidelines for psilocybin therapy and standardized training for practitioners—something that doesn't currently exist in Canada. "It'll be the first time that we've had evidence-based psilocybin therapy guidelines developed," Dr. Shore explained. "That would be a real legacy piece from this... it'll definitely shift how we think about psychedelic therapy, we'll have a whole lot more trained and educated people, and we'll know a lot more even just through the first few years of the funding."

Overcoming Barriers to Access

The CAN-PACT initiative aims to address several significant barriers that currently limit access to psychedelic therapy in Canada. Chief among these is the regulatory framework—psilocybin remains a controlled substance, currently only available through Health Canada's Special Access Program, which allows healthcare practitioners to request access to drugs that are not yet approved in Canada for patients with serious or life-threatening conditions. "The most promising [psychedelic] in this space is psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, but there's no easy access to it for patients," noted Dr. Carlson. Another major challenge is the lack of trained clinicians. "The way we deliver these therapies is through psychedelic-assisted therapy, and you have to train clinicians to be able to do this," Dr. Carlson explained. By developing standardized training protocols and building capacity across the country, CAN-PACT hopes to create a sustainable model for delivering psychedelic therapy within the Canadian healthcare system.

The Science Behind the Experience

While the subjective effects of psilocybin can seem almost mystical, there is solid neuroscience underlying its therapeutic potential. Psilocybin primarily targets the serotonin 2A receptor in the brain, working through the serotonergic system related to mood regulation. What makes psilocybin particularly interesting from a neuroscientific perspective is its ability to generate neuroplasticity—essentially reorganizing the network connections in the brain. "Usually, interconnected areas that impact mood and thought processes are disconnected, opening up the brain to reconnect in different ways," explained Dr. Carlson. This neural reorganization may be especially valuable for breaking entrenched patterns of negative thinking. "Through life, some may develop patterns of 'depressogenic thinking' that support negative mood," Dr. Carlson noted. "Those networks become cemented in place, and it's very hard to stop thinking that way. This idea of opening up or loosening those connections allows you to reestablish connections that support better mental health... more elevated mood."

The Therapeutic Experience

A typical psilocybin therapy session is carefully structured to maximize beneficial outcomes and minimize risks. Preparation is key to avoiding negative experiences or "bad trips." Therapists focus on both "set" (the mindset of the person) and "setting" (the environment)."Preparatory sessions help to get patients in the right mindset, to be open to the experience," said Dr. Carlson. "Which is not to be fearful, to be open, to be curious... to be in the moment, and to try and just let go and go with it. "During the actual dosing session, patients are accompanied by one or two trained guides or facilitators. "They're in a safe environment, in a medical setting or in a clinic, but also a comfortable environment... there's soft music playing, they can wear an eye shade," described Dr. Carlson. This supportive, controlled setting helps create the conditions for what many participants describe as a profound and meaningful experience—one that can lead to significant shifts in perspective about life, death, and suffering.

A Patient-Centered Approach

A distinctive feature of the CAN-PACT initiative is its commitment to involving patients in every aspect of the research process. The priorities for the CCS Breakthrough Team Grants were identified by people with lived experience of cancer, ensuring that the research addresses the needs that matter most to patients."We're trying to bring together everybody in Canada who is already working or interested in this area, because it's very new," said Dr. Carlson. This inclusive approach extends to the research team itself, which includes patients, healthcare providers, and policy makers who will collaborate to influence research, treatment, and policy around psychedelic-assisted cancer therapy. Jennifer Wilson, the vice-president of research and programs at the Canadian Cancer Society, praised Dr. Carlson's leadership, noting that her proposal "really tackle(s) this from multiple perspectives" and is bringing a "network of people" invested in the research and who will be positively impacted by it to the table.

From Counterculture to Cancer Care

The CCS funding represents a remarkable evolution in the perception of psychedelic compounds. Once associated primarily with counterculture and recreational use, substances like psilocybin are increasingly being recognized for their therapeutic potential by mainstream medical institutions. Dr. Harriet Richardson, a senior investigator on the project and Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences at Queen's University, described the grant as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a meaningful psychedelic cancer research collaborative." She emphasized that the research "will help pave the way for evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapy to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for people with advanced cancer. "This shift in perception has been driven by a growing body of rigorous scientific research from institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College London, and now Canadian universities. The involvement of the Canadian Cancer Society—one of the country's most respected health charities—signals a new level of legitimacy for psychedelic medicine.

Looking to the Future

While the primary focus of CAN-PACT is on developing psychedelic therapy for people with advanced cancer, the implications of this research extend far beyond cancer care. The infrastructure, training protocols, and policy frameworks developed through this initiative could potentially benefit people suffering from a wide range of conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and end-of-life anxiety related to other illnesses. "This is a very exciting partnership that includes researchers, institutions, patients, and decision-makers from across Canada," said Dr. Shore. "It is going to live in perpetuity and will influence the whole evolution of psychedelic research in Canada, by far. "As the project unfolds over the next five years, it has the potential to transform not only how we approach psychological distress in cancer patients but also how we think about mental health treatment more broadly. By combining ancient wisdom about plant medicines with modern scientific methods and healthcare delivery systems, CAN-PACT represents a bold step toward a more integrated, holistic approach to healing. For people living with the profound emotional challenges of advanced cancer, this research offers something precious: hope. Not necessarily for a cure for their cancer, but for the possibility of living their remaining time with greater peace, meaning, and connection—free from the grip of existential dread and demoralization that so often accompany serious illness. In the words of Dr. Richardson, this initiative will "help pave the way for evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapy to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for people with advanced cancer." And that, perhaps, is the most meaningful breakthrough of all.

References

1. Canadian Cancer Trials Group. (2025, March 19). CCS Breakthrough Grant awarded for The Canadian Network for Psychedelic-Assisted Cancer Therapy. https://www.ctg.queensu.ca/cctg_news/ccs-breakthrough-grant-awarded-canadian-network-psychedelic-assisted-cancer-therapy
2. Wilhelm, S. (2025, March 19) . 'Promising' psychedelic therapy aims to help cancer patients. Calgary Herald. https://calgaryherald.com/news/university-calgary-cancer-research-psychedelics
3. YGK News. (2025, April 3) . Psychedelic research led by Queen's professor earns Canadian Cancer Society grant. https://ygknews.ca/2025/04/03/psychedelic-research-led-by-queens-professor-earns-canadian-cancer-society-grant/
4. Canadian Cancer Society. (2025) . Conducting research, influencing policy and increasing access to psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with advanced cancer. https://cancer.ca/en/research/for-researchers/funding-results/2025-breakthrough-team-grants/can-pact

The original article can be found here: https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-researchers-among-network-receiving-5-million-new-cancer-research-program