Ground-breaking consciousness science.
Who Are We?
The Foundation for the Study of Human Consciousness (ECOH) is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating, promoting, and disseminating scientific and practical knowledge about human consciousness. This is achieved through the exploration of non-ordinary states induced by psychedelics, meditation, and other practices for scientific, therapeutic and human development purposes.
We aim to contribute to human development and health promotion through scientific inquiry into the exploration of consciousness and its non-ordinary states in a safe, effective, and accessible manner.
Emerging international evidence suggests that psychedelics, meditation, and other practices associated with non-ordinary states can significantly reduce the suffering caused by depression and other mental health conditions.
Given this scenario, it is crucial to establish research foundations in Chile and Latin America to validate knowledge regarding the safety and efficacy of non-ordinary states.
As part of our work, we seek to build reciprocal bridges between scientific knowledge and the indigenous and mestizo cultures of our continent, cultures knowledgeable about non-ordinary states.
The goal of the ECOH Foundation is to advance the study of human consciousness to enhance human wellbeing. Therefore, our starting point and ultimate aim concerns human experience.
Board of directors
Dr. Christopher Timmermann
President and cofounder
BSc in Psychology (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), MSc in Neuroscience (Università di Bologna, Italy) and PhD in Neuropsychopharmacology (Imperial College London, UK).
MSc. Cristóbal Dañobeitia
Treasurer and cofounder
Sociologist (Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Chile), Master ‘s in Cognitive Sciences (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, México), Data Analytics Certificate (Universidad de Chile / MIT). Postgraduate in Sound Art (Universidad de Barcelona).
Dr. Pilar del Río
Secretary
Surgeon (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) specialised in Psychiatry (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile).
Sebastián Meza
Chief operating officer
Industrial Civil Engineer(Universidad de Chile).
Team
Catalina Apey
Legal Advisor
Lawyer (Universidad de Chile), LL.M in Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law (Entertainment track) (University of Miami).
Antonia Morales
Project Coordinator
Political Scientist (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), Diplomas in Advanced Data Analysis Techniques and Design and Implementation of Social Surveys (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), MPA in Public Policy and Management (University of York, [in progress]).
Luz Edwards
Communications
Journalist (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), Diploma in Aesthetics and Philosophy (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), Master ‘s in Bioethics (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, [pending graduation]).
Members
We are an interdisciplinary network of mental health experts and researchers
Clinical Team
Dr. Aurelio Riquelme
MD (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), specialised in Adult Psychiatry (Universidad de Santiago, Chile), certified in Evidence-Based Medicine (Universidad de Chile) and Mindful-Eating (Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile). Currently completing a degree in Musical Therapy (Universidad de Chile).
Ps. Santiago Valdivieso
BSc in Transpersonal Psychologist (Universidad del Pacífico). Holotropic Breathwork Facilitator certified (Grof Transpersonal Training, USA). Ontological Bodywork Coach (Escuela Fractal, Chile). Integral Coach (Ken Wilber’s Integral School; Integral Coaching Canada).
Dr. Francisco Carrera
MD (Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina, Cuba), MSc in Public Health (Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile), Certified in: Epidemiology and Health Research; Pillars of Public Health: Methods and Determinants of Health; Health Policy Management (Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile). Specialized in Adult Psychiatry (Universidad de Santiago).
Teresa Moya
Clinical and Educational Psychologist (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile).
Dr. Felipe Landaeta
BSc in Psychology (Adolfo Ibáñez University), Master in organizational Psychology (Adolfo Ibáñez University) and PhD in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology (California Institute of Integral Studies, USA). Certified Holotropic Breathwork Facilitator (Grof Transpersonal Training, USA), and Focusing Trainer (Focusing Institute of New York).
Rodrigo Jarpa
Psychologist (Universidad Gabriela Mistral), Master’s in Clinical Psychology (Universidad de Los Andes), Doctorate in Human Sexuality (Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality)
Ps. Ingrid Tartakowsky
Psychologist (Universidad Diego Portales). Master’s in Clinical Psychology of Adults (Universidad de Chile). Postgraduate Certificate in Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation (Universidad de Chile). Diploma in Mixed Methods of Social Research (Universidad Alberto Hurtado). Currently pursuing a Postgraduate Certificate in Trauma Clinic and Relational Psychoanalysis (ILAS) and an Advanced Master Program on the Treatment of Trauma (NICABM).
Dra. Magdalena Sanfuentes
MD (Pontificia Universidad Católica), Psychiatrist (Instituto Psiquiátrico). Diplomas in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (Universidad de Chile) and Addictions (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile).
Member of the Working Group (GDT) of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy of SONEPSYN.
Scientific Team
Dr. Rodrigo Cofré
BSc in Mathematical Engineer and BPhil in Aesthetics (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), MSc in Computational Biology and Biomedicine (Université de Nice, France) and PhD in Mathematical Neuroscience (Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Francia).
Dr. Constanza Baquedano
BSc in Biochemistry (Universidad Santiago de Chile), MSc in Neuroscience (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), and PhD in Neuroscience (Université Claude Bernard Lyon, France – Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile).
Dr. Fernando Rosas
BA in Music Composition, minor degree in philosophy, BSc degree in mathematics, and MSc and PhD degrees in engineering sciences (all Pontificia Universidad Católica, Chile).
Dr. Catherine Andreu
BSc in Molecular Biotechnology (University of Chile), MSc in Neurosciences (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) and PhD in Neurosciences (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile).
Dr. Josefina Cruzat
BSc in Audiology and Speech and Language Therapy (Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile), Master in Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology (Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain), Master in Cognitive Sciences (Pompeu Fabra University, Spain) and PhD in Computational Neuroscience (Pompeu Fabra University, Spain).
Dr. Rubén Herzog
Biologist (Universidad de Chile), Master in Biological Sciences (Universidad de Chile), and PhD in Biophysics and Computational Biology (Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile). Currently a post-doc at the Paris Brain Institute.
Dr. Ignacio Cea
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (INACAP). Master’s in Philosophy (Universidad Alberto Hurtado). Doctorate in Philosophy of Mind (Universidad Alberto Hurtado).
Francisca Gili
Bachelor of Arts (Pontificia Universidad Católica), Master’s in Anthropology (Universidad Católica del Norte), and PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Humanities (Universidad Finis Terrae)
ECOH Foundation’s History
2019
The Foundation for the Study of Human Consciousness was established when Christopher Timmermann pursued his PhD at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, researching the effects of psychedelics on the brain and their applications in mental health.
Constituted by experts pertaining research and clinical applications of psychedelics, meditation, and other non-ordinary states of consciousness (NSC), the Foundation set the general objective of institutionalising research associated with NSC through academic and educational activities.
2020
In the following years, the Foundation organised interdisciplinary meetings at the San Francisco Lagunillas Nature Sanctuary, laying the intellectual and strategic foundations of the organization.
2021-2022
The Foundation launches several seminars and symposiums were conducted in collaboration with Universidad Católica, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, and Universidad de Chile. These seminars are given by world-leading experts such as Roland Griffiths, Robin Carhart-Harris, and Katrin Preller.
2023
The Foundation launches its first courses focused on the research of psychedelic substances. These courses were conducted in collaboration with Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Universidad de Chile, and Academia de Psicología y Bienestar.
The foundation concludes its gestation period. Constanza Baquedano and Cristóbal Dañobeitia joined as co-founders of the foundation alongside Christopher Timmermann, and Sebastián Meza joined the board as Director of Operations.
Currently, the foundation is preparing for the first clinical psychedelic research in Chile, involving the administration of psilocybin for the treatment of depression.