Research & Projects
Preliminary data suggests that ayahuasca has potential to treat a range of conditions, problems, and ailments transdiagnostically.
Onaya Science explores the effects of ayahuasca and Amazonian plant medicines using epigenetic, neuroimaging, physiological and psychological measures. The team shares all findings through scientific journals, conferences, podcasts and other media efforts.
Research in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest
Based in the heart of the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve near Iquitos in Peru, the Ayahuasca Foundation’s Riosbo Research Center is Onaya Science’s main research hub.
The team works alongside the Indigenous healers to design and conduct studies into ceremonial ayahuasca, involving them at every stage of the research.
Current Projects
Onaya’s Official Collaboration with the Yorenka Tasorentsi Institute
Dr Simon Ruffell, and, by extension, Onaya, received a wonderful honour in 2025: an invitation to collaborate with the Yorenka Tasorentsi Institute. This partnership represents, to us, one of the most critical missions today: building a truly respectful relationship between Western and Indigenous communities.
“We have learned that progress comes when we listen deeply to each other, rather than solely advancing our own ideas of knowledge, healing, or even the nature of the universe. Dialogues like this are essential, not only for healing people globally but for nurturing the wisdom we need as a species to face the challenges ahead.”
In a collaboration with former UFC fighter, Ian McCall and Athletes Journey Home
Onaya Science has developed a scientific protocol designed to investigate the impact of psychedelic retreats on traumatic brain injuries in professional athletes.
Following a successful pilot study in April 2025 at Experience Onward, the results here are this 5-year protocol uses 256ch high resolution neuroimaging, cognitive assessments, full genome sequencing, microbiome/ metabolomics, and blood markers, similar to our Veteran study.
This project is expanding beyond ayahuasca and will be exploring the effects of a range of different psychedelic interventions through centres (e.g. LaWayra Retreat in Colombia) which have partnered with Heroic Hearts Project and Athletes Journey Home.
Ian McCall is a retired American mixed martial arts world champion, psychedelic research advocate, decriminalise California event director, psilocybin advocate, performance coach and mentor. He is the founder of Athletes Journey Home
Collaborating with the Heroic Hearts Project and the University of Melbourne
Onaya Science is currently collaborating with the Heroic Hearts Project and the University of Melbourne to investigate the impact of ayahuasca retreats for military veterans who have experienced trauma.
In this study, participants attend retreats in the Peruvian Amazon for specially designed research programmes. The team is looking at psychometrics, brainwaves, gut microbiome, and epigenetic change to quantify potential effects.
This work builds on previous research which found that ayahuasca, when taken in traditional ceremonial practices, leaves epigenetic marks on genes associated with trauma. This study aims to explore further these findings in an effort to clarify the biological networks that ceremonial ayahuasca may be impacting.
Publications
