Our Team
Behind the Scenes:
Meet Our Dedicated Team Driving Innovation in Addiction Prevention Research
DIRECTORS
Prof. Ornella Corazza
Prof. Ornella Corazza, Ph.D., is a Full Professor at the University of Trento and the University of Hertfordshire, leading multidisciplinary teams researching clinical and psychopathological implications of drugs and behavioral addictions. With over 300 scientific publications, books, and media appearances, she focuses on lecturing, teaching, and has received numerous awards, including the 2013 European Health Award. She serves as President of ISSED, Editor-in-Chief of Elsevier's International Journal for Emerging Trends in Drugs, Addictions, and Health, and advises organizations like the UNODC and WADA on addiction policy. Her research aims to develop new strategies for addiction while promoting global cooperation for societal health and security.
Prof. Gianluca Esposito
Prof. Gianluca Esposito, Ph.D. is a Full Professor at the University of Trento, where he is Head of the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, directing multidisciplinary teams researching the mechanisms underlying Social Interaction across human development. With over 300 peer-reviewed publications, books, and book chapters, his work combines neuroimaging, electrophysiology, genetics, and behavioural approaches to study typical and atypical behaviours. He has received multiple recognitions from agencies across Europe, Singapore, Japan, the USA, and the UAE. Prof. Esposito serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Genetic Psychology and collaborates with global organizations to advance research, education, and policy initiatives that enhance social and cognitive well-being.
DISTINGUISHED VISITING PROFESSOR
Prof. Oliver Rabin
Prof. Oliver Rabin is a Senior Director Science and Medicine at World Anti-Doping Agency. He has a demonstrated history of working in the sports industry. Strong research professional skilled in Biotechnology, Public Relations, Life Sciences, Science, and Research. Rabin graduated from the University of Paris with a doctorate in applied toxicology, which he followed with a degree in biomedical engineering. He then worked at the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, Maryland, from 1993 to 1996, developing pharmaceutical strategies for brain neuroprotection. A move into the commercial sector with Beaufour-IPSEN, in Paris, came next, and in September 2002, Rabin took up his current position of science director at WADA.
RESEARCHERS
Dr Thomas Zandonai
SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR
University of Trento, Italy
Gabriele Penazzi
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Trento, Italy
Vittoria Barbati
PhD student, University of Trento, Italy
Sofia Venturini
BSc and MRes, University of Trento, Italy
Dr Pierluigi Simonato
Dual Diagnosis Clinic, Parco dei Tigli, Italy
Dr Alessandro Carollo
University of Trento, Italy
Dr Ilaria De Luca
University of Hertfordshire, UK
Dr Elisabeth Prevete
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Dr Francesco Di Carlo
University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
EXTERNAL COLLABORATORS
Dr Julius Burkauskas, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Klaipėdos, Lithuania
Prof Artemisa Dores, University of Porto, Portugal
Dr Antonio Metastasio, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Prof Giuseppe Bersani, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Prof Bernardo Dell’Osso, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
Prof Zsolt Demotrovics, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar
Prof Lambros Lazuras, Lincoln University, United Kingdom
Prof Fabio Lucidi, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Dr Hironobu Fujiwara, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyoto University, Japan
Prof Stefano Pallanti, Istituto of Neuroscienze, Italy
Prof Francesco Botrè, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Dr Silvia Camporesi, University of Vienna, Austria
Dr Vincenzo Abbate, Kings College London, United Kingdom
Prof Naomi Fienberg, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Dr Ermelinda Levari, SERD , Trento, Italy
Prof Giovanni Martinotti, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
INTERNSHIPS
Giulia Rampinelli, University of Trento, Italy
Marta Savasta, University of Trento, Italy
Andrea Garofalo, University of Trento, Italy
Alice Ambrosini, University of Trento, Italy
Lorenzo Beber, University of Trento, Italy
Rachele Frenzoso, University of Trento, Italy
Giulia Sarpa, University of Trento, Italy
Greta Imperadori, University of Trento, Italy
Sofia di Grusa, University of Trento, Italy