Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver condition that occurs during pregnancy and is characterised by a disruption in the normal flow of bile from the liver. A new international study has identified a strong link between the genetic susceptibility to ICP and the body’s ability to regulate bile acids and metabolise lipids and cholesterol. The findings open up new avenues for research into maternal health and pregnancy-related liver diseases.

USC researchers have launched the university’s first study of psychedelic therapy – a clinical trial focusing psilocybin, a psychedelic chemical found in certain types of mushrooms throughout the world, which has shown promise for treating substance abuse and other mental health disorders. Recruiting healthy community-based volunteers, the research team hopes to determine if structured mindfulness meditation training can augment psilocybin-assisted therapy, using a comprehensive battery of physiological, biological, cognitive, and psychosocial measures. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is funding the research through its Evidence-Based Validation & Innovation for Rapid-Acting Treatments (EVIDENT) initiative. The initiative is designed to help spur the development of more effective treatments and more personalized care for people with mental or behavioral health disorders. Researchers will enroll approximately 72 middle-aged adults from the Los Angeles community who have no current psychiatric or medical pathology and no previous experience with psychedelic use or meditation practice.  Participants will be randomized to receive psilocybin alone under supervision or psilocybin with mindfulness training. Participants will also complete a comprehensive series of assessments, including EEG, brain MRI/fMRI scans, salivary, blood, and stool samples as well as psychological and cognitive measures before and after treatment. They will also complete follow-up surveys at approximately 3 months, 6 months, and one year after the treatments. Researchers will evaluate the data to determine potential effects on psychological well-being, spirituality, cognitive functioning, brain activity related to self and narrative processing, and biological markers related to inflammation and brain health.