About Orchard OCD

We built a community of interdisciplinary professionals and work with them closely to progress together in developing new and better treatments for patients suffering from OCD.

Our Vision

is a world where all patients suffering from OCD receive effective treatment for their condition.

Our Mission

is to build that world by advancing collaborative translational research and driving the quest for new and better treatments for OCD.

Our Goals

We have a three-pillar approach,
1. Research (fund and run clinical trials)
2. Hubs (OCD research database and repository)
3. Dissemination (awareness campaigns and conferences)

Our Team

The Work We Do

Psilocybin: According to a research project in 2006, psilocybin has been reported to significantly reduce OCD symptoms in OCD patients. Despite positive results, no further research has been carried out due to lack of funding.
Orchard collaborated with Professor David Nutt, Imperial College London, and Professor Naomi Fineberg, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, to run a pilot clinical trial using psilocybin to treat OCD. We raised £60,000 from a crowdfunding campaign in 2020 which was match funded by a foundation. The study has now started and will last 18 months, recruiting and following up 15 patients.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS): We received funding for our second research project in September 2020. Research at the University of Hertfordshire involves working on a promising new treatment that involves passing a small, almost imperceptible electric current into brain areas connected to OCD.

Patients’ Involvement in Medical Research

At Orchard OCD, we recognise that the advancement of medical research, particularly in the field of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), requires more than just scientific rigour – it demands the inclusion of those directly impacted by the condition. Founded by and led by individuals with OCD, our organisation is uniquely positioned to understand the profound importance of involving people with lived experience in the research process. We see these individuals not merely as participants but as invaluable partners whose insights are crucial for driving research towards outcomes that genuinely matter to those affected.

Our commitment to patient involvement is woven into every stage of our research endeavours, from the initial conceptualisation of study designs to the final analysis and dissemination of findings. By engaging those with firsthand experience of OCD, we ensure that our research transcends theoretical exploration and is deeply rooted in the practical realities of living with the disorder. This approach helps us identify and prioritise the most pressing challenges faced by the OCD community, enabling us to focus on solutions that can make a tangible difference.

Furthermore, involving patients in research fosters a sense of empowerment and ownership within the OCD community, as their voices and experiences directly influence the direction and relevance of the studies. This collaborative model not only enriches the research but also builds a stronger, more informed community that is actively engaged in the quest for better understanding and treatment of OCD.

Through this inclusive and patient-centred approach, Orchard OCD is dedicated to making a lasting and meaningful impact on the field, ultimately striving to improve the lives of those affected by OCD. We believe that by working together with the OCD community, we can uncover insights that lead to a deeper understanding of the condition and, ultimately, more effective treatments.

Position Towards Animal Research

Orchard OCD fully endorses the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) position statement regarding the use of animals in research. As an organisation dedicated to improving patient lives and outcomes through rigorous research, we recognise the importance of employing various research methods, including the use of animals when necessary. All research approaches, including those involving animals, are vital in advancing our understanding and treatment of severe health conditions.

We take the decision to fund medical research very seriously. We are committed to conducting high-quality research that is ethically justified, well-designed, and subject to rigorous expert review. The welfare of animals involved in research is of the utmost importance to us, and we fund only research adhering to high animal welfare standards, ensuring appropriate housing conditions and well-trained animal technologists.

When funding animal research, we are guided by the principles of reduction, replacement, and refinement (3Rs), which are fundamental to humane animal research. We expect our applicants to actively employ these principles to improve animal welfare. Additionally, we are committed to openness and transparency, recognising that not everyone may be comfortable with the use of animals in research. We continuously review our funding practices and engage with the scientific community to promote better practices and the development of alternatives to animal research. We will fund animal research only if no valid alternative is pursuable.

By endorsing the AMRC position statement, Orchard OCD aligns itself with the highest animal welfare and scientific integrity standards and reaffirms its commitment to conducting responsible and impactful research.

Scientific Advisory Board

Orchard’s Peer Review Process

At Orchard OCD, we are committed to a robust peer review process that aligns with the AMRC’s principles of expert review. We aim to ensure that the research applications we assess for funding undergo a rigorous and fair evaluation. Here is the peer review process that Orchard OCD follows:

  • Proportionality: our review process seeks to be appropriate for the scale and significance of the research award. The expertise we seek to review applications aims to be as best as possible to provide relevant and effective evaluations. In cases where expertise is lacking in specific areas or for substantial funding requests, we will seek additional external expert reviews.
  • Independence: we consider the advice provided by experts who are independent of Orchard OCD’s staff and trustees. This ensures an unbiased evaluation of research applications.
  • Diversity: we actively seek recommendations from a diverse range of experts who possess relevant knowledge or experience. We aim to include experts who reflect various perspectives and stakeholder views, and we also consider diversity regarding gender, ethnicity, and other relevant factors.
  • Rotation: Orchard OCD is committed to implementing a rotation system to involve different experts in the decision-making process regarding research funding. This practice allows for the inclusion of fresh ideas and new perspectives, ensuring that a wide range of voices is considered. However, we recognise that the pool of experts specialising in OCD is more limited compared to other psychiatric conditions. Consequently, it is only sometimes possible to completely renew the composition of our research review committee(s). To address this, we are fortunate to have OCD world-leading experts who serve as an “ever-green” point of reference for our charity. Their ongoing involvement provides invaluable continuity and expertise, helping to guide our research strategy with their deep understanding of the field. While we strive to periodically review and update our committee composition, these experts remain a steadfast and essential component of our research review process.
  • Impartiality: we developed and routinely adhere to a Conflicts-Of-Interest (COI) Policy specific to research funding. This policy clearly outlines the types of conflicts that may arise and specifies the actions conflicted experts should take to avoid influencing funding decisions.
  • Transparency: Orchard OCD is committed to transparency in our research funding decisions. We published our research strategy and expert review process online, allowing external audiences to understand our rigorous methods. We also disclose the names of the experts involved in the decision-making process, recognising their valuable contributions. Additionally, we will transparently communicate our approach to using animals in research, considering the 3Rs (reduction, replacement, and refinement) through expert review.

By implementing the above peer review process, Orchard OCD seeks to uphold the highest evaluation, integrity, and transparency standards in its research funding decisions. This process will ensure we effectively identify and support impactful research projects aligning with our mission of advancing understanding and treating OCD.

Our Supporters

Our Volunteers

Orchard is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) non–
commercial Partner. This means the studies that we fund may be eligible to access the NIHR
Study Support Service which is provided by the NIHR Clinical Research Network.