Manesh Girn, PhD
Co-Founder and CEO @ Five Discovery
About
I am Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Five Discovery, a regenerative neurology biotechnology company pioneering non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens inspired by 5-MeO-DMT. Our mission is to translate the plasticity biology underlying psychedelic science into scalable small-molecule therapeutics that restore and stabilize dysfunctional neural circuits in neurodegenerative disease and brain injury. My work sits at the intersection of psychedelic neuroscience, neural circuit biology, and translational drug development. Trained as a neuroscientist, I completed my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, where I investigated how psychedelic compounds module human brain function and mediate lasting therapeutic change. I have authored over thirty peer-reviewed publications spanning psychedelic science and cognitive neuroscience, including in journals such has Nature Medicine, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Brain, and Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Beyond Five Discovery, I serve as Scientific Director at the Center for MINDS, where I lead research initiatives that explore how psychedelics and related modalities can be leveraged for insight, creativity, and innovation in technical and professional contexts. I also serve as Lead Neuroscience Avisor at FIVE Research and Education, guiding scientific strategy and research design related to 5-MeO-DMT. Previously, as Chief Research Officer at Entheotech Bioscience, I advised on IP strategy, led clinical trial design, oversaw regulatory and research documentation, and evaluated emerging technologies for clinical implementation. Over the years, I have served as a scientific advisor to several companies developing psychedelic or psychedelic-inspired therapeutics.
United States
San Francisco
Research
Neuroimaging Data Analysis, Neuroimaging Experimental Design, MATLAB, Python, Research, Data Analysis, Neuroimaging, Experimental Design, Neuroscience
Experience

Co-Founder and CEO
- Lead corporate strategy and long-term vision for a regenerative neurology biotechnology platform focused on non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens - Define and lead development strategy translating psychedelic-derived plasticity biology into scalable small-molecule therapeutics - Direct preclinical and translational roadmap, including target selection, pharmacology strategy, and regulatory positioning - Oversee IP strategy and portfolio development - Guide capital strategy, investor relations, and external partnerships - Build and lead a scientific and advisory team spanning medicinal chemistry, in vivo pharmacology, and translational neuroscience - Define corporate narrative and field positioning within regenerative neurology and next-generation CNS therapeutics

Scientific Director
- Lead scientific vision and research strategy focused on how psychedelics can be leveraged for creativity and insight in professional and technical contexts - Design and oversee translational research initiatives bridging psychedelics, creativity science, and real-world innovation contexts - Build and steward academic collaborations with leading researchers and institutions - Shape the organization’s long-term scientific roadmap and impact model - Translate emerging findings into strategic initiatives, convenings, and field-building efforts

Chief Research Officer
Canada
- advising on IP strategy - clinical trial protocol development, study design, and their implementation - leading or overseeing the writing of various research documents (e.g., literature reviews, clinical trial protocols, therapy manuals, internal documents, etc.) - investigating and vetting relevant technologies, platforms, and interventions for our clinic - writing blog posts disseminating scientific research related to psychedelics, neuroscience, psychopharmacology, and mental health - leading the development of a novel natural psilocybin formulation

Clinical Advisory Group Member
- advising the HHP-Canada Executive Director on building and implementing HHP-Canada’s programming and operating models - informing HHP-Canada’s program design and implementation process by: - Reviewing program plans, objectives, structures, and outcomes - Defining any program data collection protocols and reporting measures - Defining additional appropriate measurement and evaluation criteria for HHP-Canada - Supporting HHP-Canada’s future efforts to improve and scale its programs

PhD Researcher
- I conducted original neuroimaging (fMRI) research focused on (I) the brain basis of psychedelic drug effects in humans and (II) the relationship between a network of brain regions referred to as the 'default-mode network' and cognition

Research Assistant
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- worked in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Thought Lab, supervised by Dr. Kalina Christoff - worked 2014-2017 as a volunteer research assistant, and 2017-2018 as a full-time paid research assistant and lab coordinator - assisted with and led multiple research projects and research papers, assisted with grant writing, managed lab financial and administrative tasks
Manesh Girn, PhD's Contact Information
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