Francesco Benedetti

Francesco Benedetti is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan, a position he has held since 2018. He directs the Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology research unit at the Neuroscience Division of the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, a role he has occupied since 2009. Additionally, he serves as Head of the Simple Structure with departmental value in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the same hospital since 2002.

Dr. Benedetti completed his medical degree from the University of Modena in 1991 with full marks and honors, followed by specializations in Clinical Psychology from the University of Milan (1995) and Psychiatry from Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (2005), both with full marks and honors. He obtained National Scientific Qualifications for associate professor (2014) and full professor (2017) in Psychiatry.

His research focuses on the intersection of neuroscience and behavioral disorders, with particular emphasis on brain imaging of psychopathology, psychiatric genetics (especially imaging genetics), chronobiology and chronotherapy, neurobiology of mood disorders, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. He also investigates clinical psychobiology across the lifespan and neuroinflammation in psychiatric conditions. His work spans from basic neuroscience to clinical applications, with a strong translational focus.

Dr. Benedetti's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on advanced computational approaches to understanding mood disorders, neuroimaging biomarkers, and the relationship between inflammation and psychiatric conditions. His research increasingly incorporates machine learning techniques and multi-modal approaches to differentiate psychiatric conditions and predict treatment outcomes.

• International Society for Bipolar Disorders Best Poster Award (2008)
• European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Best Poster Award (2001)
• Premio "Antonio D'Errico" (2000)

Dr. Benedetti has supervised numerous doctoral students through his participation in doctoral committees at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University from 2018-2024. He leads several significant research initiatives including the EU-funded MOODSTRATIFICATION project (2018-present) investigating immune signatures for therapy stratification in mood disorders, and participates in the international ENIGMA network (2017-present) focused on neuroimaging genetics in psychiatry.

He directs the Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology research unit at IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, which collaborates with multiple European research centers through networks like ENPACT (European Network on Psychosis, Affective disorders and Cognitive Trajectory) and previously MOODINFLAME (2008-2012), which investigated neuroinflammation in mood disorders.