News

We are pleased to announce that Fabio Ferrarelli, MD, PhD, has been promoted to Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. Ferrarelli received his MD from Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (UCSC) in Rome, where he additionally completed his psychiatry residency, followed by a PhD in psychiatry. He came to the United States for additional residency training, which he completed at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH). 

Dr. Ferrarelli’s research focuses on the study of neural oscillations during sleep, and how such oscillations affect fundamental aspects of brain function. He uses multiple cutting-edge clinical neuroscience tools to identify predictive, diagnostic, and response biomarkers, especially in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and in patients with first episode/early course schizophrenia. Dr. Ferrarelli has advanced our understanding of the association between sleep and psychosis, demonstrating that sleep EEG abnormalities are associated with core symptoms of neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia. His research has shown that specific EEG oscillations during sleep are altered in psychosis and may occur before the onset of symptoms. In addition, he has shown that neurostimulation and neuromodulation techniques can alter these EEG oscillations, and such alterations may improve symptoms and neurocognitive deficits. His findings suggest that in addition to being markers of psychosis, sleep EEG oscillations may actually play a causal role in psychosis.

Dr. Ferrarelli leads multiple grants, including two National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) R01s, and he is multiple principal investigator of a National Institute on Drug Abuse UG3 grant, as well as an NIMH R01. A highly valued collaborator, Dr. Ferrarelli serves as co-investigator on multiple National Institutes of Health studies in Psychiatry and Biostatistics. He is a member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, has published his research in top journals, and has been invited to present his research nationally at annual meetings of scientific organizations, as well as abroad in Finland, Italy, Portugal, and Japan.

Dr. Ferrarelli is highly skilled in conducting clinical neuroscience investigations and linking those investigations directly back to the clinical phenomena he observes in his patients. He cares for patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders as an attending psychiatrist at the Services for the Treatment of Early Psychoses (STEP) clinic, an outpatient clinical program for people with symptoms of psychotic disorders. In addition, Dr. Ferrarelli has been highly engaged in developing the Department of Psychiatry’s Interventional Psychiatry Program, which hosts annual forums to highlight how non-invasive brain stimulation is used to increase our understanding of and effectively treat a range of psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Ferrarelli has made tremendous contributions to teaching and mentoring at the University of Pittsburgh. At the (STEP) clinic, Dr. Ferrarelli has supervised residents and has served as a clinical preceptor for undergraduate trainees through the Center for Translational Mental Health Research undergraduate fellowship program. He is a member of the training faculty for the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh (CNUP), the Pitt Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition. In addition, Dr. Ferrarelli is a highly regarded research mentor and has worked with students and trainees across levels.

“Dr. Ferrarelli is an expert on sleep alterations in the neurobiology of schizophrenia, and has earned a well-deserved reputation in the national and international arenas. He is a creative thinker with a strong record of impactful scholarly accomplishments,” said David Lewis, MD (Chair, Department of Psychiatry). “As a clinician, Dr. Ferrarelli provides superb care, and effectively marries his research and clinical work to develop effective interventions for individuals with mental illness. In addition, he is an outstanding teacher and mentor.”

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ferrarelli!