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Metabolic Psychiatry

Metabolic interventions have the potential to radically transform our understanding and treatment of mental health conditions. We seek to build the evidence base for existing and emerging ketogenic and other metabolic interventions for those suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders. We fund high quality research with the goal of rapidly translating results into therapies delivered at scale.

Metabolic Mind Awardees

We partnered with the Milken Institute’s Center for Strategic Philanthropy to reward clinicians for their work in advancing Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for mental disorders. Metabolic Mind Awardees reflect an international group of clinicians, advocates, and educators furthering the field of metabolic psychiatry.
The 2022 Metabolic Mind Awardees are:
Ignacio Cuaranta, MD Asociación Psiquiatría Rosario Dr. Cuaranta is a clinical psychiatrist in Argentina who has been using metabolic approaches to treat patients since 2015. He has contributed significantly to the field of metabolic psychiatry by engaging with the public through lectures and social media and by promoting Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for mental health at conferences worldwide. Learn more
Albert Danan, MD Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier Dr. Danan has practiced psychiatry for 35 years and has published results of his delivery of Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy to patients in his psychiatric clinic. This body of work represents the largest inpatient study of this intervention for psychiatric patients and paves the way for future pilot and randomized controlled trials. Learn more
Georgia Ede, MD Diagnosis Diet Dr. Ede is one of the earliest pioneers of metabolic psychiatry. In addition to using ketogenic therapies in clinical care, she has been educating the public about nutrition science, metabolism, and mental health for over a decade through her international speaking engagements, comprehensive website, and social media presence. She is also the creator of the first CME-accredited Ketogenic Diets for Mental Health clinician training program. Learn more
Nicole Laurent, LMHC Mental Health Keto Ms. Laurent is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and founder of mentalhealthketo.com. She delivers Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy to her clients with mood disorders, has undertaken post-graduate training in Nutrition and Integrative Health, and has engaged with the public through her blog, podcast appearances, and social media. Learn more
Christopher Palmer, MD McLean Hospital Dr. Palmer has 20 years of experience treating patients with Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy. He has used his global lectures, website, media appearances and social media presence to raise awareness of ketogenic therapies among clinicians and the public. His upcoming book, Brain Energy, will make a case for a metabolic cause for diverse psychiatric conditions. Learn more
Denise Potter, RDN, CSP, CDCES Potter Dietitian Consulting Ms. Potter is a leading dietician providing Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy across multiple neurological and metabolic conditions. In addition, she is credited with collaborating to create the Ketogenic Therapeutics Mastery courses, which have contributed to the modern framework for treating epilepsy and other psychiatric and neurological conditions using this intervention. Learn more
Beth Zupec-Kania, RDN, CD Ketogenic Therapies Ms. Zupec-Kania is a registered dietitian in the field of metabolic psychiatry and a consultant to The Charlie Foundation. She designed KetoDietCalculator, a free resource used by nutritionists and the public, wrote educational guides on Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for epilepsy and neurological disorders, created a training module to educate nutritionists and psychiatrists, and is a co-author on many scientific papers. Learn more
Attendees at 2022 Met Psy Roadmap Retreat in Santa Barbara

INAUGURAL RETREAT

Baszucki Group hosted the first ever Metabolic Psychiatry Roadmap Retreat in Santa Barbara in May 2022 to begin building a movement focused on metabolic psychiatry.

RETREAT WELCOME REMARKS

Hear David Baszucki and Jan Ellison Baszucki share their family’s story at the first Metabolic Psychiatry Roadmap Retreat.

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Highlighted grants

We invest in mechanistic clinical trials focused on adapting evidence-based metabolic interventions to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. We hope to expand our work to respond to new signals that metabolic therapies can also effectively treat anorexia, binge eating disorder, alcohol use disorder, migraine, ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, dementia and more.

Dr. Dominic D’Agostino University of South Florida Improving Cognitive-Behavioral and Cardio-Metabolic Health with Continuous Glucose Monitoring Read more
Dr. Harry Campbell, Dr. Iain Campbell and Dr. Daniel Smith University of Edinburgh Phase 2 Clinical Trial and Mechanistic Study of Ketogenic Diet in Bipolar Disorder Read more
Dr. Shebani Sethi Stanford University Impact of a Ketogenic Diet on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health in Patients With Schizophrenia or Bipolar Illness Read more
Dr. Judith Ford University of California, San Francisco Can Neural Network Instability in Schizophrenia be Improved with a Very Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet? Read more
Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai and Dr. Carlo Longhitano James Cook University, Australia Pilot Trial of Ketogenic Diet in Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia Read more
Dr. Jeff Volek Ohio State University; Virta Health Ketogenic Intervention in Depression (KIND) Study in a college population Read more