PhD researcher studies psychedelic compounds for depression treatment

Trust Nwaka, a pharmacist and medicinal chemistry PhD candidate at the University of Toledo in the United States, is studying how psychedelic compounds interact with biological targets. His research focuses on tryptamines, a class of psychoactive compounds being examined for potential applications in depression, substance-use disorders and other neuropsychiatric conditions. In a statement made available to PUNCH Online, Nwaka said his work was examining whether the compounds interact with proteins and biological pathways beyond the receptors traditionally associated with their effects.

He is using photoaffinity labelling, a chemical biology technique for identifying interactions between drugs and biological targets, together with multi-omics approaches to study the compounds’ effects. Nwaka said the methods could help identify the biological systems affected by the drugs and clarify how those interactions may be linked to behavioural and therapeutic outcomes. “We need to identify the targets these drugs interact with, the pathways they alter, and how those molecular events contribute to both their therapeutic benefits and undesirable effects,” he said.

Researchers continue to examine the psychoactive effects, safety, potential for abuse and long-term consequences of psychedelic compounds. Nwaka said his work was designed to investigate both possible benefits and unwanted effects. He has presented findings at conferences organised by the American Chemical Society, the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, and the Chemistry and Pharmacology of Drug Abuse.

He was also selected for the American Chemical Society Future Pharma Innovator Programme, which included 22 participants from the United States and Canada.