Dr. Simon Ruffell
(MD, MRCPsych, PhD)
Senior Instructor
Dr. Simon Ruffell, a psychiatrist with a PhD in ayahuasca and mental health, combines Western medicine, research psychology, and traditional plant medicine expertise. He has focused on ayahuasca research since 2016, and as CEO of Onaya Health and co-founder of Onaya Science, he collaborates with universities and Indigenous-led organizations to study ayahuasca's effects in Amazonian settings. Simon aims to bridge Indigenous and Western perspectives on plant healing. He is currently training in Shipibo curanderismo under Keyo Sui Rono and Don Rono Lopez.
Dr. WaiFung Tsang
(MSc, DClinPsy)
Senior Instructor
Hailing from Hong Kong, Onaya's COO Dr WaiFung is a research psychologist with years of clinical experience primarily in the field of addiction, neurodevelopment and trauma, exhibiting a keen interest in psychedelic research. Currently based at the Maudsley Hospital, King’s College London, he is a co-founder of Onaya Science specialising in Amazonian indigenous ayahuasca research. He is also training in Shipibo Curanderismo and a talented musician with his band United Freedom Collective, signed to the acclaimed UK label, DamaDama, Ninja Tune.