Full Professor of Psychiatry

Luigi Grassi graduated in Medicine and Surgery (1981), specializing in Medical Psychology (1985) and Psychiatry(1989). He was a Researcher in Psychiatry at the University of Ferrara (1990-2001), Associate Professor ofPsychiatry (2001-2005), then Full Professor of Psychiatry since 2005. He was Director of the Department ofBiomedical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Ferrara [two terms] (2013-2018) and of theDepartment of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation (2021-2024). He was Director of the School of Specialization inPsychiatry (2005-2021) and of the Degree Course in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Techniques, University of Ferrara(2005-2018).His research focuses on the areas of psychosocial rehabilitation in psychiatry, consultation psychiatry, and psycho-oncology.He has acquired funding for this from various public and private bodies, having been the principal investigator of the project “Improving health staff' communication and assessment skills of psychosocial morbidity and quality of life in cancer patients: A study in Southern European countries (SEPOS)” (EU Health and Consumer Protection Agreement —SI2.Principal Investigator of the project “Improving health staff' communication and assessment skills of psychosocial morbidity andquality of life in cancer patients: A study in Southern European countries (SEPOS)” (EU Health and ConsumerProtection Agreement —SI2.307317 2000CVGG2-026); Project ID Project “Cost-effectiveness of innovative, non-pharmacological strategies for early detection, prevention and tailored care of depressive disorders among cancer patients: rTMS and Virtual Reality-based Cognitive Remediation (PNRR Ministry of Health – Mission 6 PNRR-MAD-2022-12375899); P.I. Local Unit ‘Prevalence, 1-year incidence and symptom severity of mental disorders in the elderly: Relationship to impairment and functioning service utilisation - MentDis ICF65+’ (EU 7th Framework Research Programme, Grant No: 223105, EU); P.I. Local Unit Project ‘EPIC: Epistemic Injustice in Health Care’ – UK/PO NO. UOB513949); P.I. Local Unit Project— tAckLingmenTal Health cancer patients and their families: digital solutions for bEtter cAre – Althea (EU Health andDigital Executive Agency HADEA - 101161236). He is the national coordinator of SPOKE 5 – Mood and Psychosis of the #NEXTGENERATIONEU(NGEU) project Ministry of University and Research (MUR), National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) ‘A multiscale integrated approach to the study of the nervous system in health and disease – MNESYS’ (PE0000006, DN. 1553 11.10.2022). In terms of healthcare, he was director of the Complex Operational Unit of Hospital Psychiatry (2002-2024) and of the Consultation Psychiatry Programme (2024-present), Integrated Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Care Department, Ferrara Local Health Authority. He is the author of over 300 publications in international journals (Scopus H index=53; citations=12,178), chapters in national and international volumes, and seven monographs (Oxford University Press, Wiley, Springer). He was President of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) (2006-2008); Chair of the Federation of Psycho-Oncology Societies (2008-2018); President of the Italian Society of Psycho-Oncology (SIPO) (2003-2011), President of the Italian Association of Cognitive-Analytical Therapy (2013-2021). He is Chair of the World Psychiatric Association Section on Psycho-Oncology/Palliative Care (2005-present) and President of the Italian Society of Consultation Psychiatry (SIPC) (2015-present). He was Co-Director of the Italian Journal of Psycho-Oncology (CIC Edizioni Internazionali, Rome) (1999-2011). He edits the Integrating Psychiatry and Primary Care series for Springer, Berlin-New York, together with Michelle B. Riba and Dinesh K.M.L. Bhugra. He was awarded the Arthur M. Sutherland Award, conferred by the International Psycho-Oncology Society ‘for a lifetime achievement in the field of psycho-oncology’ in 2012, and the Jimmie Holland Memorial Award ‘honouring an IPOS or psycho-oncology community member, for making a unique contribution that is considered to be a highly creative or pioneering innovation or activity that advances the field of Psycho-oncology’ in 2025.