Devin Effinger, PhD

PhD neuroscientist building precision neurotechnology for psychedelic-assisted therapy. Founder @ Psio + NeuroRecovery | TEDx Speaker

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

My TEDx talk is live! I share my path from TBI to heroin addiction to neuroscientist, along with simple strategies for resilience and top-down control. I’d truly appreciate you sharing it.
https://t.co/WqDD5HjAfr

[NPP-Digital Psychiatry and Neuroscience (DPN) @dpn_journal]

Our first Deep Dive of 2026 covers a recent Perspective calling for recognizing and removing the barriers faced by researchers with lived experience of mental illness or SUDs who work in our field.

By @UmaRChatterjee, @SchumerMaya, @devin_effinger & colleagues.

https://t.co/Qb3ZRpy2Ss

[BryanRoth @zenbrainest]

Postdoctoral fellowship available in structure guided drug discovery in @RothLabUNC
Please RT

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

@OliverK28 Thanks bro!!

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

My TEDx talk is live! I share my path from TBI to heroin addiction to neuroscientist, along with simple strategies for resilience and top-down control. I’d truly appreciate you sharing it.
https://t.co/WqDD5HjAfr

[NPP-Digital Psychiatry and Neuroscience (DPN) @dpn_journal]

Researchers with lived experience of mental illness or SUDs bring vital expertise & insight to our field, yet remain underrepresented and face barriers to participation and leadership.

This Perspective from @UmaRChatterjee, @SchumerMaya, @devin_effinger, @viscidula, @noelvest, Michael Cahill, @BStaglin, @EricJNestler calls for breaking these barriers and proposes actionable strategies to build more inclusive environments by reforming admissions, mentorship, and leadership pathways.

https://t.co/0OiWDFJO47

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

@drrickbarnett @BellevueDoc Low-dose psilocin/LSD off receptor within 10h. Suggests that psychedelics, even taken daily, won’t reach the threshold to promote remodeling effects. Appears kinetics drive the effect and presumably at some dose or frequency (2/3x/day) you’d see effects with psychedelics.

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

@drrickbarnett @BellevueDoc In our study, 8 weeks of chronic low-dose LSD produced no evidence of valvulopathy or cardiac remodeling, unlike high-dose 5-HT or fenfluramine (FEN) controls. Modeling & human PK data suggest effects requires sustained 5-HT2B activation over 24h—a profile seen in FEN and MDMA.

[Niko Massaly @MassalyNiko]

🚨 Please RT!
We’re recruiting a motivated postdoc to dissect the neurocircuits of affective pain.
Expertise in behavioral models of pain/SUDs, stereotaxy, microscopy, opto/chemogenetics, or fiber photometry encouraged.
Apply 👉 https://t.co/3MvLGA75nH
#Neuroscience #Postdoc

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

If anyone is looking (or know of someone) for a roommate and has a spot at the Atlantis for @ACNPorg , please let me know!

[The Transmitter @_TheTransmitter]

Devin Effinger @devin_effinger and @MelissaHerman4 argue that, though many human psychedelic clinical trials are underway, preclinical studies remain our best bet to answer fundamental questions about the neurobiology of psychedelics.
https://t.co/4HBcJSMtnK

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

What an honor! Humbled and grateful. It was a beautiful disaster and a perfect metaphor for my recovery ending with a standing ovation. Thank you so much to the organizers and stay tuned for the link! @TEDxBoulder

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

@enpunct What is probably because of D2 affinity?

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

Takeaway: In mice, 8 weeks of low-dose LSD produced no evidence of heart damage.

But human studies are still essential — especially in people with cardiovascular risk factors.

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

🚨 New paper 🚨

For years, there has been concern that psychedelics might pose cardiovascular risks due to their agonist activity at the 5-HT2B receptor — the same target linked to drug-induced heart disease.

https://t.co/PsDxP24wKT

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

Pharmacokinetic modeling gave us a potential explanation:
👉 Fenfluramine is still present in blood at 24h, leading to sustained and chronic 5-HT2B activation.
👉 Low doses of LSD and psilocin are both off the receptor within 8-10h.

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

@hubermanlab @sweatystartup @RCarhartHarris @Drug_Researcher Sorry should clarify. No effect in BDI outcome** I think it points to important point both clinically and pre clinically. It’s possible psychedelics exert completely different effects in the depressed/anxious brain and microdosing only effective for those with symptoms.

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

@hubermanlab @sweatystartup @RCarhartHarris @Drug_Researcher Most compelling data thus far IMO. Molla et al (2024) from de Wit lab. Comparing high vs low BDI scoring individuals. High BDI show significantly greater sensitivity to 26ug LSD and reductions in BDI 48 hours after. No effects in low BDI.

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

@manorlaboratory A characteristic shared among known valvulopathic 2B agonists is prolonged presence within the blood (18-24h) leading to persistent activation of 2B. Low dose LSD/psilocin off receptor in 8-10h. Certainly there is some dose/frequency at which problems arise with psychedelics.

[Devin Effinger, PhD @devin_effinger]

@RCarhartHarris @Drug_Researcher @hubermanlab @sweatystartup Yes it seems, though absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Yes, positive control groups were Fenfluramine and a high dose of 5-HT.