Hi, my name is
PEDRAM DARA
Founder and Director of
Psychedelic Lived Experiences
Qualitative Psychedelic Research
Lived Experience Integration
Ethics and Governance
Reshaping psychedelic care by bridging clinical science and lived expertise.
I’m a cross-functional media and tech leader turned psychedelic treatment advocate after participating in MDMA-assisted therapy clinical trials in 2019. With over 15 years of experience producing media, building products, navigating complexity, and connecting people across disciplines, I now bring that same rigor and empathy to transforming mental health care.
I’m the founder of Psychedelic Lived Experiences and the creator of an independent, participant-centered infrastructure for psychedelic clinical research. My work translates lived experience into actionable risk intelligence, governance insights, and post-trial visibility for pharmaceutical sponsors, academic institutions, and IRBs. Informed by first-hand trial participation, qualitative research, and seven years of cross-role engagement with researchers, clinicians, patients, and trial participants, I operate at the intersection of ethics, GCP adherence, and systems co-design to surface blind spots, reduce harm, and strengthen institutional readiness as the field evolves.
My focus is infrastructure: building the missing layer that ensures psychedelic care evolves with rigor, accountability, and the people most impacted at the center.
Psychedelic Lived Experiences Summit
Hear from 50+ patients, trial participants, therapists, and researchers as they share lived wisdom and expert insights. Explore the potential and limits of psychedelic treatments with raw stories that move beyond hype and fear, highlight true complexity, and deepen understanding.
Over 3,000 people joined us Nov 21–23, 2025. The summit is complete. Watch all 54 interviews and 9 panels with an All Access Pass.
Where I Come From
From 2008 to 2018, I worked in media and tech—producing blockbusters like Tron and Thor, leading video marketing for Silicon Valley startups and building software for YouTube content of brands like the NBA and Sony.
Cross-functional Leadership
Led teams across product, ops, events, and media to deliver high-impact results in complex environments.
Product Management and Operations
Built and scaled solutions across tech, wellness, and research—driving efficiency, clarity, and sustainable growth.
Technology and Media Production
Developed software, created digital content, and produced immersive experiences for startups and global brands.
Where I’M GOING
Since 2019, I’ve advocated for patient safety and treatment efficacy, speaking at major forums such as the European Parliament and the FDA, and at leading conferences like Psychedelic Science, ICPR, and Breaking Convention.
Lived Experience Advocacy
Elevating patient and trial participant voices to inform psychedelic research, care, and policy reform.
Psychedelic Care Systems Thinking
Bridging insight across therapy, research, and lived experience to shape safer, more responsive care systems.
Research, Education, and Events
Organizing summits, programs, and trainings that center real-world knowledge and lived expertise in psychedelics.
Why I’m Building Psychedelic Lived Experiences
After years of leading cross-functional teams across tech, events, and product development, I shifted focus toward advocacy in psychedelic healthcare, a field where clinical science often overlooks lived wisdom. Today, I’m working to elevate lived experience expertise as a core part of psychedelic research, treatment, and policy. Through events, education, and systems change, I aim to center the voices of those most impacted.
Experience
2024-present
Psychedelic Lived Experiences
Founder and Director
2021-2023
OPEN FOUNDATION
Head of Product and Operations
2016-2020
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
Supporting Health and Wellness Brands
Education
2015-2016
MONTREAL ENGLISH SCHOOL BOARD
Health & Wellness Business Development
2008-2009
Vancouver Film School
3D Animation and Visual Effects
2001-2004
Shamsipour Technical University
Bachelor of Computer Science
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