MMS AGM & Webinar “Beyond The Trip” by Dr. Shayan Amiri

Join Manitoba Mushroom Society for their 2nd AGM and a webinar by Dr. Shayan Amiri “Beyond The Trip: Understanding Psilocybin’s Effects on the Brain and Mental Health“.

MMS Members are requested to attend in-person at the University of Winnipeg to participate in voting for motions, Board, and other Society matters, beginning at 6:30 pm.  Dr. Amiri will begin his presentation, available as a webinar, at 7:30 pm.

Psilocybe cubensis, one of the most widely recognized psychoactive mushroom species, belongs to a group of fungi with a long history of traditional use and growing scientific interest in their therapeutic potential.

This presentation begins with a brief introduction to psychoactive mushrooms and their historical significance before exploring the biochemistry, pharmacology, and neuroscience of psilocybin, their principal psychoactive compound. We will examine how psilocybin influences brain activity, alters neural connectivity, and may produce therapeutic effects in various neuropsychiatric disorders.

Drawing on findings from preclinical and clinical research, the presentation will highlight the current evidence supporting psilocybin-assisted therapy, while critically examining its potential psychological and physiological risks, limitations, and safety considerations. Finally, we will discuss emerging research directions and the unanswered questions shaping the future of psilocybin in modern medicine.

Dr. Shayan Amiri (Bio)

Dr. Amiri is a pharmacologist and neuroscience researcher who moved to Canada from Iran in 2016. He earned his MSc in Biochemistry and Medical Genetics and PhD in Molecular Pharmacology from the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Amiri has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications in psychopharmacology, behavioral neuroscience, and molecular pharmacology, including research published in internationally recognized journals such as Science Signaling, eLife, and Neuropharmacology.

A recipient of a prestigious Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) postdoctoral award, Dr. Amiri currently conducts research at the St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre in Winnipeg, investigating the therapeutic potential of anti-inflammatory lipid mediators in hypertension-associated dementia.

NOTE: MMS does not condone or promote the use of mushrooms containing psilocybin, this presentation is informational as to their history and effects on the brain and mental health.

Registration is free to Society Members, post-secondary students, NAMA members, and members of NAMA affiliated myco clubs.  Only Members attending in person at the University of Winnipeg meeting room will be permitted to vote.

You must register by January 17 midnight using THIS FORM.

The room number and webinar meeting link will be emailed to you on January 18.  Your information will be kept confidential and is only used to administer this meeting/webinar.

The photo is of Dr. Shayan Amiri, taken by Donna Kurt