Amy Emerson is the CEO of MAPS PBC
Here is the story of how she got there & where she's taking MDMA-AT for PTSD next
Some quick background if you're unfamiliar with @MAPSPBC
The organisation is wholly owned by MAPS (the non-profit)
140 people work there vs 45 at MAPS
The 2nd part of Phase III studies with MDMA-AT for PTSD are in the works
FDA decision on approval expected in 2023
Amy came from the "radical independent" Kodiak, Alaska
Growing up, she became interested in working at Genentech
So, she studied genetics & cell biology
The first few years of her career took place at the bench, developing vaccines and doing HIV research for Chiron (later Novartis)
A chance encounter at Burning Man in the late 90s changed the directory of her life
Whilst cleaning up MOOP (matter out of place), she bumped into a flyer of the Mind States Conference
At the conference, she heard Rick Doblin speak and thought, "I have to help him do this... It was a moment of clarity; I could see the mission when Rick described it"
She reached out to Rick and started helping out MAPS in the evening, helping shape the first clinical trial with the Mithoefers
Only years later, in 2009, there was enough money to hire Amy
She joined MAPS and, in 2014, set up MAPS PBC
Although MAPS PBC is a for-profit, it has the public benefit as the #1 goal
"If we would've taken investors, they would've been like, 'You can't use the word psychedelic, or you have to do it this way.' It would've taken us off of our mission."
Today, in 2022, MAPS PBC is nearing the completion of their flagship clinical trials
With some luck, the FDA will approve MDMA, in combination with therapy, next year
Amy got there by leveraging two of her most important skills 1) curiosity and 2) open-mindedness
It has been a long ride, but the team at MAPS (PBC) is almost there
If you want to hear Amy speak about what is next, join her at a free webinar that we're putting together with @OPEN_fndn next Wednesday
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vijD2u8dSMC2WW99rzeKww
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