The Southern Consortium for Indigenous Psycho-Pharma (SCIPP) was established in 2024 at the University of Pretoria. The primary aim of the Centre is to conduct inter-disciplinary research and development (R&D) on medicines that:

• Are natural (derived from plants, fungi, biological organisms)
• Include traditional rituals and ceremonies (music, dance and movement)
• Assist in the treatment of mental health conditions (psychological, neurological and substance addictions)
• Originate from traditional medicine and indigenous knowledge systems of the traditional healers of Africa and the global South

SCIPP is an inter-disciplinary research consotrium integrating advanced specialisations in Pharmacology, Botany, Mycology, Chemistry, Psychiatry, Psychology, Sociology and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) to conduct cutting-edge research and development (R&D) on naturally derived materials, which may assist in the effective treatments for the most prevalent mental health conditions affecting people today.

Some of the activities of SCIPP include:

• Development of natural psycho-medicines for clinical and complementary uses
• Publication of scientific research papers
• Support and supervision of student research projects in these domains
• Development and facilitation of academic teaching and capacity-building programmes for practitioners (i.e. traditional healers, community health workers, IKS and local psycho-pharma fraternities)
• Engagement with public health policy and advocacy around scheduling, access, guidance and use of natural psychedelic and psycho-active compounds for therapeutic purposes
• Inform economic policy regarding novel medicines derived from psychedelic and psycho-active plants, fungi and biological organisms