Clerkenwell Health is a technology company.
Clerkenwell Health has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at Clerkenwell Health.
Clerkenwell Health has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Clerkenwell Health is not primarily a technology company—it is a clinical research organization (CRO) specializing in central nervous system (CNS) and psychiatric trials, with a particular focus on psychedelic-assisted therapies. While the company leverages technology partnerships to enhance its research capabilities, its core business is designing and delivering clinical trials for mental health and neurological treatments.
Clerkenwell Health operates as a boutique clinical research organization that bridges a critical gap in mental health research: connecting patients seeking breakthrough treatments with pharmaceutical companies developing new therapies.[1] The company's mission centers on transforming how CNS and psychiatric clinical trials are conducted by combining rigorous science with compassionate, human-centered care.[4]
The company serves drug developers and pharmaceutical sponsors conducting clinical trials, particularly those working on psychedelic-assisted therapies and other CNS treatments.[4] Rather than building software or technology products, Clerkenwell Health solves the problem of inefficient clinical trial recruitment, poor patient experiences, and lack of specialized infrastructure for complex psychiatric research. Its growth momentum is notable: the company is recruiting for clinical trials 3x faster than competitors and maintains a 600+ therapist waiting list, while achieving 100% client satisfaction on value delivery and 85.7% client retention for future projects.[4][5]
Clerkenwell Health was founded in early 2021 by Tom McDonald (CEO), Sam Lewis (CFO), and George McBride (CCO).[1] The founders created the company in response to what they identified as "a profound lack of humanity in trials" that was hindering scientific progress, particularly for the 1 in 4 people who experience mental illness in their lifetime.[1]
The company's early traction came through opening Europe's first commercial research site dedicated to psychedelic trials in London in autumn 2020/early 2021, designed specifically to support patients under the effects of psychedelics with dignity and care.[1][3] This pioneering facility earned significant media coverage in The Guardian, The Times, Evening Standard, Sifted, and Forbes.[1] By 2023, Clerkenwell's first clinical trials received regulatory approval from the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority) and began enrollment.[3] The company has since become a leader in the psychedelic research space, leading nearly half of the ongoing phase 2 clinical trials in the global psychedelic market.[7]
Clerkenwell Health's competitive advantages center on its specialized infrastructure and integrated service model:
Clerkenwell Health operates at the intersection of two significant trends: the emerging legitimacy of psychedelic-assisted medicine and the broader crisis in mental health treatment innovation.[1][4] The company is positioned to capitalize on regulatory shifts—particularly in Australia and potentially the US—that are opening pathways for psychedelic therapies.[7]
The timing is critical: while mental health conditions affect hundreds of millions globally, clinical trial infrastructure has not evolved to meet the unique demands of psychiatric and CNS research. Clerkenwell's model—combining specialized facilities, therapy expertise, and patient-centered design—addresses a systemic bottleneck that has slowed drug development in this space. By establishing London as a hub for European psychedelic research and demonstrating that compassionate trial design improves both recruitment and scientific outcomes, Clerkenwell is influencing how the broader CRO industry approaches psychiatric research.[3]
Clerkenwell Health's trajectory suggests a company moving from specialist niche player to infrastructure provider for an entire therapeutic category. The planned expansion to a 5-site national network, particularly with NHS integration, positions the company to become the dominant player in UK-based CNS and psychiatric trials.[1] As psychedelic medicines move through regulatory approval pipelines globally, demand for specialized trial infrastructure will intensify.
The company's future likely involves deepening its technology integrations (biomarkers, brain imaging, AI-driven patient matching) while maintaining its core differentiator: treating trial participants as people rather than data points. If successful, Clerkenwell could establish a new standard for how psychiatric research is conducted—one that proves compassionate care and rigorous science are not competing priorities but mutually reinforcing ones.
Key people at Clerkenwell Health.
Clerkenwell Health has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Clerkenwell Health's investors include Exceptional Ventures, Moonstone Venture Capital, David Giampaolo, Jason Stockwood, Luigi Mastromonaco.
Clerkenwell Health has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in October 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2022 | $2.0M Seed | Exceptional Ventures, Moonstone Venture Capital, David Giampaolo, Jason Stockwood, Luigi Mastromonaco |
