Dr. Anja Loizaga-Velder is a German-Mexican clinical psychologist whose research into the therapeutic potential of ritual psychedelic plant use spans more than two decades.

She serves as Director of Research and Psychotherapy at the Nierika Institute for Intercultural Medicine and is currently collaborating on the Ayahuasca Treatment Outcome Project, which aims to validate the effectiveness of Ayahuasca and traditional Amazonian medicine for the treatment of addictions.

Loizaga-Velder is also an adjunct professor of Humanities in Health at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where she works to implement clinical research in evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of sacred plants in intercultural therapeutic settings. Her work aims to preserve and amplify the wisdom of precolonial Amazonian and Mesoamerican traditions while cultivating a respectful and productive dialogue between western medicine and indigenous healers.