Maria Basta, MD, PhD

JAD profile

Affiliation(s): 

Department of Psychiatry; University Hospital of Heraklion; Crete; Greece

Areas of Interest: 

sleep, aging, cognitive disorders, inflammation, cytokines

Biography & Research: 

Dr Maria Basta was born in Heraklion/Crete/Greece. She graduated the Medical School of Crete in 1997. She completed her residency in Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry / University Hospital of Crete in 2006. During her residency she was trained in Sleep Medicine for 6 months in the Sleep Research and Treatment Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA. She acquired her PhD Diploma from the Medical School of Crete in 2003 in Sleep Medicine. Between 2006-2007 she did a 13 months postodoctoral fellowship in Sleep Medicine in the Sleep Research and Treatment Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA. 2007-2012: Attending Psychiatrist in Venizeleio General Hospital/Heraklion/Crete/Greece, in the Mental Health Center of Heraklion/ Crete/Greece and in the Department of Psychiatry/University Hospital/Heraklion/Crete/Greece. 2013- 2011: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Crete, Greece, School of Medicine (tenure since Jan 2017). 2018:2020: Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Crete, Greece, School of Medicine (tenure) She has published over 50 original articles/review articles, most of them on field of Sleep Medicine (citations :2.154, h-index:22) Dr Basta is currently involved in the following research grants as a co-investigator/ Primary Investigator: • “Multidisciplinary Network for the study of Alzheimer’s Disease”, Program THALIS, (as co-investigator), Principal Investigator: A.N. Vgontzas (accepted: 2012) • “Evaluation Center of the course and treatment of chronic psychiatric disorders in Crete”. Program : “ ESPA: 2007-2013”, Principal Investigator: A.N. Vgontzas • “Research and Comprehensive Intervention for the social inclusion of a major socially vulnerable group: Psychological profile / psychopathology, skills' profile, needs assessment and programmes' development for training-reskilling and psychological support towards the re-inclusion of "young people not in education, employment of training" ΕΕΑ Grants GR07/3757 (ΚΑ 4361) • Sleep Apnea (OSA) and poor sleep as Risk Factors for decreased cognitive performance in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: the Cretan Aging Cohort (CAC) Principal Investigator: M. Basta (Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation, #45971, 2020-2023) She is member of the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) and the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and since 2015 is qualified with the title of “European Somnologist, expert in Sleep Medicine”.