This week’s Psychedelic Titan is Belinda Tan, Co-founder & Co-CEO of People Science. People Science is bringing better science to alternative medicine.
What’s this article series about? Psychedelic Titans is a get-to-know-you-style blog series interviewing some of the psychedelic industry’s most influential and impactful individuals.
When did you first become involved in the psychedelic industry and why?
I became more openly involved in 2020 when I started a company, People Science, to support clinical research for alternative medicines including psychedelics.
Do you, or have you taken, psychedelic substances?
I have taken psychedelic substances.
Do your parents/family members know what you’re doing?
Some of my family members know.
Have you had an experience with mental health/chronic pain?
I struggled with depression when I was in medical school.
What’s your vision of the industry in 20 years?
This industry will transform how people and institutions view mental health and wellness, that its central role in optimizing health has been lost in the pathogenesis framework of western medicine. Increasing scientific evidence showing benefit to humanity will contribute to major shifts in beliefs that previously seemed unchangeable.
What are your biggest worries for the industry?
I worry about the loss of fundamental human inner values like compassion and love in the race to profitability. I also worry about people repeatedly learning hard lessons about safety.
Who are your heroes?
I assume you mean in the psychedelic ecosystem? If so, my heroes are all of those who have had the strength to stand down to give the floor to somebody else (that is a quote by Kilindi Iyi about diversity). So many people want others to hear them, and even more, have something to say and cannot.
If you could create a psychedelic to do anything you wanted, what would it do?
It would pass the cultural belief sniff test and be perceived as “healthy” (it would be derived from a common plant that is not associated with being a “drug”) and would work in a way that the first effect would be to remove fear and anxiety and then follow with openness and compassion.
We’d like to thank Belinda for being a part of the Psychedelic Titans series. Stay tuned for weekly profiles on leaders in the psychedelic industry.
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