Inside LSD Microdosing Research

In honour of Bicycle Day on April 19, let's take a moment for LSD…

It's been less than 90 years since Albert Hofmann first synthesized it from ergot (a fungus found on rye) and in that short window, LSD has shown serious promise for depression, anxiety, and alcoholism. It also survived decades of prohibition, yet researchers never lost sight of its potential in modern healthcare.

We're still in the early era of this medicine but right now, a wave of pioneering researchers are giving microdosing LSD something it's never really had: a legitimate scientific foundation to build on.

In November, we hosted a deep-dive webinar with Dr. Suresh Muthukumaraswamy and Dr. Rachael Sumner from the University of Auckland, exploring their work on the world’s first government-sanctioned LSD microdosing trials, the potential of personalized dosing for mood and cognition, and how this research could help reshape women’s health and mental health treatment.

As we ride into Bicycle Day, here are the key takeaways every LSD advocate should know from this conversation. 👇

#1: The Future of Trials Happens at Home  🛋️

Clinical trials have taught us a lot, but most take place in highly controlled lab settings that look very different from how people actually microdose in daily life.

To better reflect real-world use, we need research designed around naturalistic settings, capturing how people engage with these substances on their own terms. This team did exactly that.

Suresh and Rachael allowed participants to microdose in their own homes. In research terms, this is called ecological validity, studying people in the flow of real life rather than an artificial lab environment.

Using smartphones to collect real-time data, they tracked subtle shifts in focus and mood that traditional clinical settings often miss. Importantly, participants stayed in their normal routines, no need to step out of everyday life to take part.

How did they make this possible? It turns out New Zealand legislation allows psychedelics to be prescribed for home use. As Suresh put it:

“I found a loophole and then I just drove my tractor straight through it.”

We love a researcher with a metaphorical tractor and a plan.

#2: Finding the Right Dose is a Personal Journey ⚖️

Not breaking news, but always worth grounding in: more isn’t necessarily better.

The Auckland researchers found that the ideal dose is deeply personal. What works for one person might feel too “loud,” or too “quiet,” for someone else. The study began at 10 micrograms, but most participants eventually settled closer to 15 micrograms.

The goal? To find the "sub-perceptual threshold." That's the level where you don't feel any physical or hallucinogenic effects, you just notice you're having a suspiciously good (or emotional?) day.

The real magic came when participants were allowed to “titrate” their dose, adjusting until they found their own edge. Dosed enough to support mood and neuroplasticity, but low enough to move through everyday life completely normally.

Suresh put it simply: if a participant felt jittery or too aware of the dose, they would dial it back.

“The sweet spot is where the medicine becomes a background hum rather than a front-page headline.”

#3: Rapid (and Safe) Depression Relief is Possible with LSD Microdosing ❤️

Here's where it gets really encouraging.

Rachael and Suresh found a "one-two punch", rapid mood improvement paired with a remarkably high safety bar. While traditional antidepressants can take weeks or months to kick in, participants in this study saw a significant drop in depression scores within the first four weeks.

The most dramatic shifts happened early on, with the initial boost giving people the momentum to build long-term mental resilience. As Rachael noted during the webinar,

"It improved their [the participants’] resilience, coping, or space for acceptance... psychedelics seem to give space to accept yourself."

And importantly, early clinical research is starting to back not just the effectiveness, but the safety too.

In February 2026, Rachael and Suresh co-authored a new study exploring LSD microdosing for major depressive disorder. The results showed that participants who microdosed at home experienced a meaningful and sustained reduction in depression severity, with no serious or severe adverse effects reported.

Notably, this was the first trial to include echocardiography after repeated psychedelic exposure, allowing researchers to directly assess heart valve safety. The result? No indication of heart valve damage after 16 microdoses.

In their words, the study provides “preliminary evidence supporting the safety and feasibility” of LSD microdosing for depression.

#4: The Menstrual Cycle Matters in Microdosing Research 👩‍⚕️

Let's face it… science doesn't know as much about the female body as we would like. 

From 1977 to 1993, the FDA formally excluded women of childbearing age from early-phase clinical trials and to this day, fewer than 30% of participants in early-phase trials are women. 

Additionally, women make up only about 40% of participants in trials for diseases that disproportionately affect them. However, that's beginning to change, especially in the world of psychedelics.

Rachael has spent years studying how the menstrual cycle affects the brain. She sees a compelling pharmacological match between psychedelics and PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), a severe, debilitating condition rooted in serotonin dysfunction that goes way beyond "bad PMS."

SSRIs have been known to work for PMDD. But as Rachael puts it: "Most people stop taking them even if they're effective because of the side effects."

Psychedelics however, with their serotonin-modulating effects and gentler side-effect profile, could be a powerful alternative. LSD in particular was found to be a "pharmacological match" for PMDD symptoms because it hits serotonin receptors fast meaning it could offer quicker, more targeted relief than traditional options.

Rachael's team is now running the first-ever clinical study of psychedelics across the menstrual cycle, tracking blood biomarkers and EEG data at different hormonal phases to understand how and when psychedelics might work best for women.

As Suresh put it, "This is the first proper clinical study of psychedelics in the menstrual cycle."

About time.

#5: Microdosing LSD Can Support Connection 🫂

Perhaps the most community-centric finding? LSD microdosing participants felt more pro-social.

Rachael and Suresh heard stories of parents feeling more present and joyful during playtime with their kids. It wasn't about "tripping." It was about having the resilience and emotional breathing room to be more... human.

Sometimes the most radical thing a parent can do is actually be there, not just physically, but all the way there.

One Last Thing…

What’s emerging from this research isn’t just a case for microdosing, but for a different kind of science altogether. One that meets people where they are, reflects real life, and acknowledges that healing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It also reinforces that women’s health should no longer be treated as an afterthought.

Most importantly, this team showed that rigorous, government-sanctioned research doesn’t need to stay inside a lab to be meaningful. Participants dosed at home, tracked data on their phones, and lived their everyday lives, offering a more realistic picture of microdosing in practice.

We’re still early. But the pioneering work of Dr. Suresh Muthukumaraswamy and Dr. Rachael Sumner is helping move us from anecdote to evidence, without losing the real-life context that makes microdosing meaningful.

🎥 Watch the Full Webinar Replay

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- With love from team Microdosing Collective 🍄

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DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes. The Microdosing Collective does not promote the use of any illegal substance. Please be aware that the use, possession, and distribution of psychedelic substances are illegal in many countries and could lead to legal consequences.