Betty Aldworth and Ismail Ali, MAPS co-executive directors, discuss leadership, research priorities, and where psychedelics are headed next

Psychedelics Today features a leadership-focused conversation with Betty Aldworth and Ismail Ali, co-executive directors of MAPS, centered on how psychedelics research should be guided by strong governance. The discussion connects organizational leadership with practical research priorities, including how MAPS advances evidence through clinical study, data gathering, and iterative program planning rather than hype-driven timelines. It also frames the future of psychedelics as a multi-stage effort that depends on continued research rigor, responsible expansion, and sustained coordination between teams working on science, policy, and implementation.