Collaborator B – Lead Investigator
name
Marco Colizzi
nationality
Italian
institution
Università degli studi di Udine
University of Udine
department
Department of Medicine
city / country
Udine, Italy
professional status
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Udine
Director, Unit of Psychiatry, Friuli Centrale Health University Authority
Visiting Professor, King’s College London
Executive Editor-in-Chief, Current Social Science and Mental Health
Chair of the Psychiatry Residency, and Academic Programs in Addiction Medicine and Professional Education
keywords
#psychiatry #clinical neuroscience #neuropsychopharmacology #psychosis prevention #early intervention #neurodevelopment #youth mental health #psychosocial interventions #psychopharmacology #cannabinoids and mental health
orcid
role in the project
Professor Marco Colizzi will contribute expertise in youth mental health, early intervention, prevention of psychiatric disorders, and neurodevelopmental pathways to mental ill-health. He will support the scientific development of the VOICE intervention, contribute to the evaluation of early identification and referral strategies, and provide expertise on preventive approaches aimed at improving access to mental health care for children and adolescents experiencing trauma-related distress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). He will also contribute to dissemination activities and the translation of project findings into sustainable models for early intervention and access to care.
general expertise and its relevance for the project
Professor Marco Colizzi is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and expert in youth mental health, neurodevelopment, psychosis prevention, and early intervention. His research combines neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, and public mental health, with a particular focus on identifying and implementing psychosocial and psychopharmacological preventive strategies across the neurodevelopmental stages of life. His work aims to improve mental health outcomes among children, adolescents, and young adults through earlier identification, prevention, and intervention.
Earlier in his career, he conducted pioneering research on the neurocognitive and neurochemical effects of cannabinoids and their role in psychosis and neurodevelopment. More recently, his research has focused on developing and evaluating preventive approaches capable of positively modifying the course of psychiatric disorders in youth populations. Within the VOICE project, his expertise will contribute to the development and evaluation of early identification pathways, preventive interventions, and strategies to improve access to mental health care for children and adolescents experiencing trauma-related distress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
awards received / other responsibilities
His scientific work has received recognition from several national and international institutions through research awards, scientific prizes, and invited academic appointments. He is Associate Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Udine and Visiting Professor at King's College London.
positions
Present – Associate Professor and Chair of Psychiatry
University of Udine, Italy.
Present – Director of the Psychiatry Unit
Friuli Centrale University Health Authority (ASUFC), Italy.
Present – Visiting Professor
King's College London, United Kingdom.
education
PhD in Neuroscience
King's College London, United Kingdom.
Specialist in Psychiatry (MD specialization)
University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy.
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy.
publications up to five most important achievements, publications, IP (e.g. patents) relevant to the proposal
1. PhD research investigating the neurocognitive and neurochemical effects of cannabinoids on the human brain.
2. Research advancing understanding of the role of cannabinoids in psychosis and neurodevelopmental vulnerability.
3. Development and evaluation of psychosocial preventive strategies aimed at improving mental health outcomes among children and young people.
4. Research on psychopharmacological prevention and early intervention across neurodevelopmental stages.
5. Contributions to improving early identification and intervention approaches for psychiatric disorders in youth populations.
most recent publications
Pennisi F., Pinto A., Nucci D., Stacchini L., Garzitto M., Veronese N., Maggi S., Signorelli C., Baldo V., Colizzi M., et al. Eating Disorder Risk and Its Biobehavioural Correlates in Italian University Students: The UniFoodWaste Study. Nutrients. 2026-05. Journal article. Author. DOI: 10.3390/nu18101588
Bortoletto R., Fanelli G., Colizzi M. Drug development in autism spectrum disorder: genetic heterogeneity, failed trials, and the case for stratified pharmacotherapy. 2026-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1097/YIC.0000000000000627
Basaldella M., Rossi M., Garzitto M., Ruffilli R., Francescutti C., Deb S., Colizzi M., Bertelli M. Effect of Specialized Psychiatric Assessment and Precision Diagnosis on Pharmacotherapy in Adults with Intellectual Disability. 2026-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.3390/jcm15020489. HANDLE: 11390/1320784. EID: 2-s2.0-105028890095. WOSUID: WOS:001672280700001
Colizzi M., et al. Mental health, coping and related risk factors during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: Nationally representative, multi-wave, cross-sectional results from 12 countries from the global COH-FIT study. 2026-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.112741. HANDLE: 11390/1323064. EID: 2-s2.0-105026151219
Colizzi M., et al. Preliminary evidence that serum interleukin-6 is a candidate biomarker of response to esketamine in treatment-resistant depression. 2026-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1177/02698811261443676. HANDLE: 11390/1331491. EID: 2-s2.0-105036662403
Cesco M., Garzitto M., Croccia V., Bier F., Saetti L., Balestrieri M., Colizzi M. Eating Disorders and Autistic Traits Camouflaging: Insights from the EAT Study. Nutrients. 2025-12. Journal article. Author. DOI: 10.3390/nu18010034
Fonda F., Chiappinotto S., Visintini E., D’Elia D., Ngwache T., Peghin M., Tascini C., Balestrieri M.,Colizzi M., Palese A. Post-COVID-19 Syndrome as Described by Patients: A Qualitative Study. Healthcare. 2025-03. Journal article. Author. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13070757
Bortoletto R., Scipioni C., Van Winkel R., Colizzi M. Bridging autism and psychosis: why childhood harm matters. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.23736/S2724-6612.25.02666-1. HANDLE: 11390/1327425. EID: 2-s2.0-105031565476. WOSUID: WOS:001699196000005
Colizzi M. Cannabis and Psychosis. 2025-01-01. Book chapter 2.1 Contribution to an Edited Volume. HANDLE: 11390/1296530
Colizzi M., et al. Collaborative Outcomes Study on Health and Functioning During Infection Times (COH-FIT): Global and Risk-Group Stratified Course of Well-Being and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Adolescents. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.07.932. HANDLE: 11390/1294524. EID: 2-s2.0-85215980143
Colizzi M., et al. Collaborative outcomes study on health and functioning during infection times (COH-FIT): Insights on modifiable and non-modifiable risk and protective factors for wellbeing and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic from multivariable and network analyses. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.07.010. HANDLE: 11390/1292024. EID: 2-s2.0-85205003992
Colizzi M., et al. Defining the Scientist: A Consensus-Based Approach. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.58742/bmj.v3i3.192. HANDLE: 11390/1314885
Zhang F., Colizzi M. Editorial: Case reports in autism: 2023. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1563977. HANDLE: 11390/1303406. EID: 2-s2.0-85219412929 WOSUID: WOS:001435786600001
Bortoletto R., Garzitto M., Basaldella M., Scipioni C., Sepulcri O., Fabris M., Curcio F., Balestrieri M., Colizzi M. Effects of palmitoylethanolamide in clinical high-risk for psychosis: A nonrandomized open-label trial. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101141. HANDLE: 11390/1320404. EID: 2-s2.0-105022655680 WOSUID: WOS:001629749800002
Colizzi M., et al. Examining psychological protective mechanisms as moderators of the association between autistic traits and psychosis expression in a general population twin sample. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2025.08.003. HANDLE: 11390/1310024. EID: 2-s2.0-105012294254
Roberti R., Comacchio C., Colizzi M., Mallio C. A., Russo E., Di Gennaro G. In Web We Trust: The Promised Cannabidiol Effects on Obesity as a Matter of Language and Marketing on Webpages. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.2174/011570159x333465241121184404. HANDLE: 11390/1296804. EID: 2-s2.0-105007423139. WOSUID: WOS:001483032400006
Basaldella M., Colizzi M. La salute mentale in adolescenza: Sfide, opportunità e modelli di intervento. 2025-01-01. Journal article. HANDLE: 11390/1320405
Palagini L., Bruni O., Colizzi M., Comacchio C., Gemignani A., Nobili L., Balestrieri M., Drake C. L., Insomnia in Pregnancy Research Group (IPRG). Maternal vulnerability to insomnia: Relationship with poor newborn sleep and peripartum psychopathology. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2025.106732. HANDLE: 11390/1312289. EID: 2-s2.0-105013150348
Colizzi M. Mental health prevention: moving forward with the evidence. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1007/s44192-025-00346-8. HANDLE: 11390/1321292. EID: 2-s2.0-105023491704 WOSUID: WOS:00162697600000
Cesco M., Garzitto M., Pischiutta L., Lombardelli T., Moratti E., Zamparutti G., Balestrieri M., Albert U., Colizzi M. Neurodevelopmental burden in young adults undergoing opioid substitution therapy: The role of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1111/ajad.70103. HANDLE: 11390/1319245. EID: 2-s2.0-105020589480. WOSUID: WOS:001605071700001
Bortoletto R., Comacchio C., Garzitto M., Piscitelli F., Balestrieri M., Colizzi M. Palmitoylethanolamide supplementation for human health: A state-of-the-art systematic review of Randomized Controlled Trials in patient populations. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100927. HANDLE: 11390/1296526. EID: 2-s2.0-85213283128. WOSUID: WOS:001412361700001
Palese A., Chiappinotto S., Colizzi M. Psychological Interventions Tailored to the Needs of Individuals With Hearing and Visual Impairments: What Do We Know and What Should We Do? A Commentary on “A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Psychological Interventions for Persons With Hearing or Vision Impairment: Research Gaps and Call to Action”. 2025-01-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1037/cps0000269. HANDLE: 11390/1308208. EID: 2-s2.0-105008830598. WOSUID: WOS:001508958000014
additional information
Professor Colizzi is an internationally recognised clinician-scientist whose work bridges neuroscience, psychiatry, and preventive mental health. His research focuses on translating advances in neuroscience into practical approaches that improve early identification, prevention, and access to care for young people at risk of mental health difficulties. His expertise is highly relevant to the VOICE project's objective of strengthening pathways to care and promoting earlier support for vulnerable children and adolescents.
