Margaret Johnson

About

Margaret Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University, which she joined in 2013. She holds a B.S. in Applied Math from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley. Her postdoctoral work was completed in the Lab of Chemical Physics at the NIH. Her multidisciplinary research group studies dynamical systems in biology, focusing on how macromolecular self-assembly is controlled to occur at the right place and time within cells. Her research addresses processes such as endocytosis, viral exit, and transcriptional regulation, developing and applying theory, modeling, and simulations in collaboration with experimentalists. Dr. Johnson's work aims to understand the principles and design of self-assembly and its biological functions, utilizing modeling techniques from physics, chemistry, and engineering, including molecular models, reaction-diffusion models, and continuum models. Her research has contributed to understanding how localization to membranes can enhance assembly processes and how the stoichiometry of protein networks influences cellular functions. She has received several awards, including an NIH Pathway to Independence Award, an NSF CAREER Award, and an NIH MIRA Award.

Research topics

• Internal medicine
• Psychiatry
• Medicine
• Psychology
• Clinical psychology

Selected publications

• Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder

  JAMA Psychiatry · 2020 · 1220 citations

  Importance: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a substantial public health burden, but current treatments have limited effectiveness and adherence. Recent evidence suggests that 1 or 2 administrations of psilocybin with psychological support produces antidepressant effects in patients with cancer and in those with treatment-resistant depression. Objective: To investigate the effect of psilocybin therapy in patients with MDD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized, waiting list-contro…

  DOI

• Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder

  JAMA · 2023 · 457 citations

  Importance: Psilocybin shows promise as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). Objective: To evaluate the magnitude, timing, and durability of antidepressant effects and safety of a single dose of psilocybin in patients with MDD. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this phase 2 trial conducted between December 2019 and June 2022 at 11 research sites in the US, participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a single dose of psilocybin vs niacin placebo administered with psycho…

  DOI

• Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up

  Journal of Psychopharmacology · 2022 · 403 citations

  BACKGROUND: Preliminary data suggest that psilocybin-assisted treatment produces substantial and rapid antidepressant effects in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), but little is known about long-term outcomes. AIMS: This study sought to examine the efficacy and safety of psilocybin through 12 months in participants with moderate to severe MDD who received psilocybin. METHODS: This randomized, waiting-list controlled study enrolled 27 patients aged 21-75 with moderate to severe unipol…

  DOI

• Naturalistic psilocybin use is associated with persisting improvements in mental health and wellbeing: results from a prospective, longitudinal survey

  Frontiers in Psychiatry · 2023-09-19 · 83 citations

  articleOpen access

  Introduction: The classic psychedelic psilocybin, found in some mushroom species, has received renewed interest in clinical research, showing potential mental health benefits in preliminary trials. Naturalistic use of psilocybin outside of research settings has increased in recent years, though data on the public health impact of such use remain limited. Methods: This prospective, longitudinal study comprised six sequential automated web-based surveys that collected data from adults planning to…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Mystical Experience Questionnaire 4-Item and Challenging Experience Questionnaire 7-Item

  Psychedelic Medicine · 2024-02-28 · 15 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Background: The Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) and Challenging Effects Questionnaire (CEQ) are two of the most widely used, validated instruments to probe subjective effects of psychedelic drugs. However, these assessments are lengthy and can be a burden to study participants or patients if administered during acute psychedelic effects, after resolution of psychedelic effects when participants are often fatigued, or in studies with multiple other assessments. The development of brief…

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R21DA026967

  NIH · $451k · 2012

• Development of a Prospective Memory Intervention to Reduce Drug Use and HIV Risk

  NIH · $2.0M · 2013–2019

• NIH Grant R21DA036675

  NIH · $443k · 2018

Frequent coauthors

• Roland R. Griffiths

  Johns Hopkins University

  360 shared

• Peter H. Addy

  VA Connecticut Healthcare System

  162 shared

• Maite Garrido

  Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona

  162 shared

• M. J. González

  162 shared

• Judit Claramunt

  Louisiana State University

  162 shared

• Jimena Coimbra

  Hospital de Sant Pau

  162 shared

• Jordi Riba

  Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

  162 shared

• Marta Valle

  Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

  162 shared

Labs

• Johnson GroupPI

Awards & honors

• NIH Pathway to Independence Award
• NSF CAREER Award
• NIH MIRA Award

Similar researchers at Johns Hopkins University

• Steven L. Salzbergh-191
• Rachel Greenh-114
• Ernesto Freireh-94