Corrado Barbui

I am a psychiatrist and Postdoctoral Fellow, curently holding a Swiss Postdoctoral Scholarships for Foreign Researcher at the University of Bern (Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine[ISPM]) and in collaboration with the University of Verona, WHO collaborating Center. My expertise lies in the design and creation of systematic reviews, oriented to summarize clinical trial findings using meta-analytic techniques, and the production of evidence based clinical guidelines, covering the pathway from knowledge production to its uptake in clinical practice. Specifically my recent research activity includes: • evaluate the efficacy and safety of psychotropic drugs; • examine global mental health and vulnerable populations, such as women in the post-partum period • evaluate and improve pathways from generating evidence to its uptake in clinical and policy practice through implementation research and knowledge transfer. Most research and implementation activities regarding psychotropic medicines are conducted with financial support from drug companies. Yet, consolidated evidence shows financial support from drug companies represents a source of bias when in the evaluation of the beneficial and harmful effects of medicines. Since the beginning of my career, I deliberately made the choice of conducting research on psychotropic medicines without any form of direct or indirect funding from commercial entities. This position gives me a unique scientific opportunity, as it allows me to study psychotropic medicines employing a scientifically neutral and balanced approach, having advancement of knowledge as my only mission.