Welcoming Francisca Silva to the PAREA team

We’re thrilled to welcome Francisca Silva to the PAREA team, joining us as a Project Officer! A neuroscientist by training, Francisca brings a wealth of knowledge and a genuine passion for brain health and mental well-being. Her interdisciplinary academic background includes a dual MSc in Brain and Mind Sciences from University College London (UCL) and Sorbonne Université, along with a BSc from the Maastricht Science Programme.

Francisca's journey into psychedelics-related work began during her recent traineeship at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), where she was involved in initiatives like the EMA Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Psychedelics held in April 2024. Her experiences at the EMA have fueled her commitment to bridging the gap between scientific research and real-world applications, particularly in the area of mental health.

As Francisca puts it: "Mental health has always been a driving cause for me, as it touches each and every one of us. There is a massive need to improve how we understand this topic and our approaches to support those who are struggling. Psychedelics hold significant potential both as therapeutic interventions and to reshape the way we approach mental health care and understand brain health as a whole."

We are excited to have Francisca on board, knowing that her expertise and dedication will be invaluable as we work towards advancing mental health and psychedelic research across Europe.