The organization of the technical and scientific operational area of the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) is divided into 6 Departments, 16 National centres, 2 Reference centres and 5 Technical-scientific services.
The National centres are technical and scientific structures that have the purpose of carrying out, managing and developing research, control, consultancy and even interdepartmental training activities, within specific areas of competence characterized by particular technical and / or scientific relevance. They constitute the operational reference point towards the structures of the health system with a strong vocation for the creation of national and international scientific networks.
The Reference centres are technical-scientific structures that have the purpose of carrying out, managing and developing research, control, consultancy and even interdepartmental training activities, within specific areas of competence characterized by particular technical and / or scientific relevance.
