Cristina Anna Colombo

Cristina Anna Colombo is a Full Professor of Psychiatry at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University’s School of Medicine. She holds leadership positions including Head of the Mood Disorders Unit at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan. Her career spans over three decades, with expertise in neurobiology, psychopharmacology, and chronotherapeutics. Colombo earned her medical degree from the University of Milan in 1985, completing residencies in Psychiatry and specializing in clinical neurosciences.

Her research focuses on mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and the neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression. She pioneered studies on sleep deprivation therapy, light therapy, and genetic factors influencing treatment responses. Her work integrates neuroimaging (MRI, PET), pharmacogenetics, and chronobiology to understand mental health disorders.

Colombo has authored over 125 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, with notable contributions on serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and lithium’s neuroprotective effects. She directs postgraduate courses in forensic psychopathology and security professions at her university. Her clinical and academic roles emphasize translational research, bridging neurobiological insights with clinical practice.

Her awards and honors include board certifications in Psychiatry and Criminology (cum laude), and her leadership in international congresses highlights her global impact. Colombo’s work continues to advance treatment strategies for mood disorders, emphasizing personalized medicine and non-pharmacological interventions.