{"id":3276,"date":"2025-08-11T19:04:03","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T19:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/research-interests-advocacy-collaboration-opportunities\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T01:54:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T01:54:40","slug":"research-interests-advocacy-collaboration-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/en\/research-interests-advocacy-collaboration-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Interests, Advocacy & Collaboration Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
Dr. Maria Gialama<\/span><\/div>

Research Interests, Advocacy & Collaboration Opportunities<\/span><\/span><\/h1>
Interdisciplinary Partnerships for Mental Health<\/div><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image\"<\/div><\/section>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
<\/span><\/div><\/div>
Contact<\/div>
231 511 32 90<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
<\/span><\/div><\/div>
Office<\/div>
26th October Street, 6<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
<\/span><\/div><\/div>
Email<\/div>
maria.gialama@bath.edu<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image\"<\/div><\/section>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

I believe the most meaningful research doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens when people from different disciplines, backgrounds, and lived experiences come together around a shared belief: that science should serve humanity, and that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and supported<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I have been fortunate to build an international, interdisciplinary network of collaborators united<\/strong> not just by professional purpose or research interests, but by common values, such as empathy, respect, and the deeply held belief that research can, and must, have real world impact and change lives.<\/p>\n

My work lies at the intersection of clinical and health psychology, good clinical practice, participatory research, and social advocacy. It is driven by one consistent question: how do we create conditions where people, particularly those who are most vulnerable, don\u2019t simply survive but flourish and thrive? That question has led me to collaborate across a wide professional landscape, from psychologists and clinicians to professionals in social care, the arts, technology, and education. Because some of the most transformative work happens precisely where diverse disciplines meet.<\/p>\n

I am actively open to collaborative research projects, international partnerships, and community-driven initiatives with real social impact<\/strong>. I believe deeply in the power of knowledge exchange and mutual learning, in the idea that when we bring diverse expertise together around shared values of respect, dignity, inclusion, and human rights, we don’t just produce better research. We create change that reaches people.<\/p>\n

If you are part of an organization<\/strong>, research team<\/strong>, or community working<\/strong> on something that matters, I would love to explore how we might build something meaningful together<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>

Dr. Maria Gialama<\/span>Research Interests<\/span><\/span><\/h2>
From Idea to Social Transformation<\/div><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Where science, clinical practice and social advocacy meet.<\/p>\n

I have always believed that research finds its truest purpose not in academic journals, but in the real lives it touches in the real world. Every area I explore is connected by a single thread: the belief that understanding the complexity of human experience is the foundation of research, policy and care that genuinely transform lives.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>

Person-Centred Care, Lived Experience & the Caregiver Journey<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

What does it really mean to live with a chronic illness, not just clinically, but humanly? I explore how people experience chronic disease, disease management, treatment and care beyond the walls of clinical settings, what dignity and autonomy mean in real-world decision-making, and why the active involvement of patients\/ people with lived experience in shaping services isn’t just a nice-to-have but a necessity. Because no one understands what people living with chronic conditions need more than those people themselves.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>

Dementia & Neurological Conditions: Where Creativity Meets Care<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Some of the most profound moments in my work have come from witnessing what happens when we stop asking what a person can no longer do and start asking how we can create conditions where they can still enjoy themselves and express their thoughts and emotions. I focus on holistic, multi-component approaches that bring together mindfulness, psychotherapy, lifestyle intervention and arts-based therapies, exploring how creative expression can meaningfully improve overall wellbeing and quality of life for people living with dementia and neurological conditions, and for the people who care for them.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>

Chronic Illness & Psychological Adaptation<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Receiving a life-changing diagnosis is rarely a single moment, it’s a long process, often challenging and nonlinear, of making meaning from disruption. I am drawn to the emotional and psychological journeys people undertake when adapting to chronic illness: the role of communication in hospital settings, the reality of medical trauma, the remarkable human capacity for post-traumatic growth, and the quiet strength that emerges when people find ways to make sense of what has happened to them. Difficulty and resilience, trauma and growth are not opposites- they coexist and understanding all sides is essential.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>

Neurological & Neurodegenerative Conditions<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Living with a neurodegenerative condition means navigating a landscape that shifts constantly and often invisibly. My research in this area focuses on the lived experience of these conditions, the importance of cognitive reserve and cognitive resilience, neurorehabilitation, and the growing potential of technology-assisted interventions to support everyday functioning and independence.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>

Rheumatic Diseases & Mental Health<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Rheumatic conditions, like Sj\u00f6gren’s, arthritis and lupus, carry a particular kind of burden: symptoms that are real, debilitating, and largely invisible to the outside world. I study the relationship between rheumatic diseases and cognitive symptoms such as brain fog, the emotional and psychological wellbeing of patients, and what it means to live with an invisible disability, one that the world often fails to recognize, and medicine has historically been slow to address.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>

Caregiver Wellbeing & Systems of Support<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Behind every person living with a chronic or complex condition, there is often someone else quietly carrying the enormous weight of providing care and support. I examine interventions that reduce caregiver stress and burden, strengthen resilience, and bridge the gap between formal and informal care, particularly in long-term caregiving relationships where burnout is not a risk but a reality, and where support systems too often fall short.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
Synergies that Create Social Impact<\/span><\/div>

I am open to Collaborations<\/span><\/span><\/h2><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
Contact<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"top_white_home_02\"<\/div>
\"bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image\"<\/div><\/section>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>

Dr. Maria Gialama<\/span>Open to Collaborations That Create Social Impact<\/span><\/span><\/h2><\/header>
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Research only fulfils its promise when it moves beyond the doc.file and into the world. I am actively open to collaborations that are ambitious in scope and grounded in purpose, joint research proposals with academic institutions and research centres, multicentre clinical trials and innovative projects with healthcare organizations, and international partnerships spanning global health initiatives, cross-cultural research on chronic conditions (esp. neurological, neurodegenerative and mental disorders) as well as psychological, psychotherapeutic, lifestyle and arts-based interventions.<\/p>\n

I work closely with patient organizations and advocacy groups on participatory research, community-based projects, and the generation of real-world evidence. I also offer consultancy to research programs, with particular emphasis on culturally sensitive approaches and translating research findings into meaningful, accessible knowledge for clinical and community audiences.<\/p>\n

If you are working on something that matters, something that aspires to reach the people who need it most, \u00a0I would be glad to explore how we might work toward it together.<\/p>\n

Let’s discuss.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether you are a researcher, clinician, patient advocate, or organization seeking a committed and values-driven collaborator, please don\u2019t hesitate to reach out. The most meaningful work I have done has always begun with a simple exchange of ideas\u00a0 and I would love to hear about yours.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3276","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3276"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3406,"href":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3276\/revisions\/3406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mariagialama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}