Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy

Contact person

Dr. Fortunato "Paolo" D'Ancona
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia, Sorveglianza e Promozione della Salute
Reparto Malattie Infettive
Viale Regina Elena 299
00161 Roma, Italy
Tel  +39(0)6 49 90 42 74
Fax +39(0)6 44 23 24 44

Description of the institute

The Istituto Superiore di Sanità, located close to the centre of Rome, is the main Italian Institute for technical-scientific research, control and advice in Public Health. It is under the authority of the Minister of Health and it has its own structure and scientific autonomy. Its role within the Italian health system is to promote Public Health through scientific research, surveys, and controls in different fields of health sciences which include infectious and non-infectious diseases, environment, food, drugs. The Institute provides scientific advice to the National competent Authority on regulatory matters such as drug and vaccine national licensures. It collaborates with the Ministry of Health in planning and implementing Public Health programmes as well as providing scientific advice to the 19 Regional and 2 Autonomous Provinces Health Authorities in the field of Public Health. In addition, it provides experts to many international activities. The Institute is a large complex of interrelating scientific laboratories and technical services. A permanent staff of over 1.200 persons and more than 600 fellows and trainees work in 7 different large Departments and 2 Centres.

Training opportunities

The trainee will be based in the Communicable Disease Epidemiology Unit at the National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion. The Centre includes about 166 staff, among whom over 100 are permanent staff. The unit includes 13 permanent staff and 14 temporary staff. The Unit is involved in various surveillance and research activities in the field of communicable disease, in particular in the area of vaccine-preventable diseases. Efforts have been put also on data dissemination and ad hoc web sites have been developed www.simi.iss.it www.epicentro.iss.it www.flu.iss.it www.spes.iss.it, micronet.cineca.it, www.episouth.org , venice.cineca.org). Recently addressed topics can be derived from the last three years publications by the Unit's staff (see below). The trainee may get involved in ongoing projects (such as a prototype of laboratory computer-based surveillance system, a surveillance sentinel system based on a network of paediatricians, estimation of possible rate of transmission of Chikungunya in Italy, persistence of HBs antibodies in children immunised with 6-valent vaccines, epidemiological studies on diffusion and impact of communicable diseases, study KAP on HPV vaccination, etc ...) or in one or more of the several international surveillance activities in which the Unit participates. Furthermore, the Unit in 2009 will be involved 2 European Project about epidemiology and mathematical models for influenza: Epi-South and FLUMODCONT). The trainee may also benefit from a number of specific formal training opportunities currently provided at the Istituto Superiore di Sanitą. Trainee able to speak Italian language will join some of the activities of the national training program for public health professionals (named PROFEA) which annually enrols 8 new trainees from the Regions for two years. Opportunities for outbreak investigation exist through collaboration with the Regions and the local health units which are in charge of primary activities: in 2007 the Unit was involved in investigations of botulism, chikungunya, meningitis and legionellosis outbreaks.

Training supervision

The EPIET fellow will be assigned to a senior researcher for each activity . An experienced epidemiologist, among the permanent staff, will supervise all the trainee activities. The trainee will be fully integrated in the team and will have access to all information and databases available. A wide range of advanced computer software, laboratory and library facilities (both electronic and printed media) is available at ISS

Language requirements

Although within the Unit most people fluently speak English, a good comprehension and speaking ability of the Italian language is necessary for the trainee in order to operate effectively in outbreak investigations and surveillance activities.

Training history

Number of EPIET fellows trained at institute: Six (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006)
Number of EPIET alumni working at the institute: One
Available as a training site for cohort 14: Yes

International Publications in the Last Three Years

2006

  • Ausiello C., Palazzo R., Spensieri F., Urbani F., Massari M., Triebel F., et al. Soluble CD30 and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (CD223), as potential serological markers of T helper-type cytokine response induced by acellular pertussis vaccine. Int J Immnuopathol Pharmacol 2006;19(1):97-104.
  • Boncompagni G., Incandela L., Bechini A., Giannini D., Cellini C., Trezzi M., et al. Measles outbreak in Grosseto, central Italy, 2006. Eurosurveillance 2006;11(8):1-3.
  • Cawthorne A., Galetta P., Massari M., Dionisi A.M., Filetici E., Luzzi I. Salmonella Typhimurium DT104, Italy. Emerging Infectious Disease 2006;12(8):1289.
  • Cerquetti M., Cardines R., Giufrč M., Castella A., Rebora M., Mastrantonio P., et al. Detection of six copies of the capsulation b locus in a Haemophilus influenzae type b strain isolated from a splenectomized patient with fulminant septic shock. J Clin Microbiol 2006;44(2):640-2.
  • Cerquetti M., Cardines R., Giufrč M., Sofia T., D'Ambrosio F., Mastrantonio P., et al. Genetic diversity of invasive strains of Haemophilus influenzae type b before and after introduction of the conjugate vaccine in Italy. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2006;43:317-9.
  • Ciofi degli Atti M.L., Filia A., Massari M., Pizzuti R., Nicoletti L., D'Argenzio A., et al. Assessment of measles incidence, measles-related complications and hospitalisations during an a outbreak in a southern italian region. Vaccine 2006;24:1332-8.
  • Ciofi degli Atti M.L., Massari M., Bella A., Boccia D., Filia A., Salmaso S., et al. Clinical, social and relational determinants of paediatric ambulatory drug prescriptions due to respiratory tract infections in Italy. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2006;62:1055-64.
  • Ciofi degli Atti M.L., Filia A., Verteramo R., Iannazzo S., Curtale F., Masini L., et al. First cases of rubella infection during pregnancy detected by new reporting system in Italy. Eurosurveillance 2006;11(3).
  • Ciofi degli Atti M.L., Rizzo C., Pompa M.G., Salmaso S., Greco D. How prepared is Europe for pandemic influenza? Correspondence. Lancet 2006; 368(9529):25.
  • De Micheli V., Raso R., Tiberti D., Barale A., Ferrara L., Lombardi D., et al. Surveillance system in place for the 2006 winter olympic games, Torino, Italy, 2006. Eurosurveillance 2006;11(2).
  • Epidemiological consultation team. Results from the integrated surveillance system for the 2006 winter olympic and paralympic games in Italy. Eurosurveillance 2006;11(8).
  • Fabiani M., Nattabi B., Opio A., Musinguzi J., Biryahwaho B., Ayella E.O., et al. A High prevalence of HIV-1 infection among pregnant women living in a rural district of northern Uganda severely affected by civil strife. Transaction of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2006;100:586-93.
  • Fabiani M., Nattabi B., Ayella E.O., Ogwang M., Declich S. Differences in fertility by HIV serostatus and adjusted HIV prevalence data from an antenatal clinic in northern Uganda. Tropical Medicine & International Health 2006;2(2):182-7.
  • Filia A., Curtale F., Kreidl P., Morosetti G., Nicoletti L., Perrelli F., et al. Cluster of measles cases in the Roma/Sinti population, Italy, June-September 2006. Eurosurveillance 2006;11(10).
  • Iacopini G., Frontespezi S., Vitale M.A., Villotti G., Bella A., d'Alba L., et al. Routine ileoscopy at colonoscopy: a prospective evaluation of learning curve and skill-keeping line. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2006;63(2):250-6.
  • Kreidl P., Stifter E., Richter A., Aschbachert R., Nienstedt F., Unterhuber H., et al. Antrax in animals and a farmer in Alto Adige, Italy. Eurosurveillance 2006;11(2).
  • Pebody R.G., Hellenbrand W., D'Ancona F., Ruutu P. Pneumococcal disease surveillance in Europe. Eurosurveillance 2006;11(9).

2007

  • Accorsi S., Fabiani M., Nattabi B., Ferrarese N., Corrado B., Iriso R., et al. Differences in hospital admissions for males and females in northern Uganda in the period 1992-2004: a consideration of gender and sex differences in health care use. Transaction of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2007;101:929-38.
  • Alfonsi V., Montomoli E., Manini I., Alberini I., Gentile C., Rota M.C., et al. Susceptibility to varicella in childbearing age women, Central Italy: is there a need for vaccinating this population group?/. Vaccine 2007;25:6086-8.
  • Bonanni P., Bechini A., Boccalini S., Peruzzi M., Tiscione E., Boncompagni G., et al. Progress in Italy in control and elimination of measles and congenital rubella. Vaccine 2007;25(16):3105-10.
  • Cardines R., Giufrč M., Mastrantonio P., Ciofi degli Atti M.L., Cerquetti M. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in children: phenotypic and genotypic characterization of isolates. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2007;26(7):577-82.
  • Ciofi degli Atti M.L., Rizzo C., Bella A., Massari M., Iannelli M., Lunelli A., et al. Modelling scenarios of diffusion and control of pandemic influenza, Italy. Eurosurveillance 2007;12(1)..
  • Costamagna G., Iacopini F., Tringali A., Spada C., Familiari P., Mutignani M., et al. Flexible endoscopic Zenker's diverticulotomy: cap assisted technique vs. diverticuloscope assisted technique. Endoscopy 2007;39:146-52.
  • D'Ancona F., Rizzo C., Gamberini S. Automatic microbiological laboratory based surveillance: the Micronet project. International Educational and Networking , 198-202. 2007.
  • D'Ancona F., Alfonsi V., Caporali M.G., Ranghiasci A., Ciofi degli Atti M.L. Pneumococcal conjugate, meningococcal C and varicella vaccination in Italy. Eurosurveillance 2007;12(2).
  • Di Legami V., Gianino M.M., Ciofi degli Atti M.L., Massari M., Migliardi A., Scalia Tomba G., et al. Epidemiology and costs of herpes zoster: background data to estimate the impact of vaccination. Vaccine 2007;25:7598-7604.
  • Fabiani M., Yoti Z., Nattabi B., Ayella E.O., Opio A., Musinguzi J., et al. Adjusting HIV prevalence data from a program for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission for surveillance purposes in Uganda. JAIDS 2007;46(3):328-31.
  • Fabiani M., Nattabi B., Pierotti C., Ciantia F., Opio A., Musinguzi J., et al. HIV-1 prevalence and factors associated with infection in the conflict affected region of north Uganda. Conflict and Health 2007;1(3):
  • Fabiani M., Cawthorne A., Nattabi B., Ayella E.O., Declich S. Investigating factors associated with uptake of HIV voluntary counselling and testing among pregnant women living in North Uganda. AIDS CARE 2007;19(6):733-9.
  • Filia A., Barale A., Malaspina S., Montł D., Zito S., Muscat M., et al. A cluster of measles cases in northern Italy: a preliminary report. Eurosurveillance 2007;12(11).
  • Filia A., Brenna A., Paną A., Maggio Cavallaro G., Massari M., Ciofi degli Atti M.L. Health burden and economic impact of measles-related hospitalizations in Italy in 2002-2003. BMC Public Health 2007;7(169):1-9.
  • Liang X., Zhang X., Yang B., Cheng M., Huang F., Pang C., et al. Pregnancy and calving rates following transfer of in vitro produced river and F1 (river x swamp) buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos in recipients on natural oestrus or synchronised for ovulation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 2007;19:670-6.
  • Luzzi I., Galetta P., Massari M., Rizzo C., Dionisi A.M., Filetici E., et al. An easter outbreak of salmonella typhimurium DT 104A associated with traditional pork salami in Italy. Eurosurveillance 2007;12(4).
  • Martinelli D., Prato R., Chironna M., Sallustio A., Caputi G., Conversano M., et al. Large outbreak of viral gastroenteritis caused by contamined drinking water in Apulia, Italy, May - October 2006. Eurosurveillance 2007;12(4).
  • Rizzo C., Di Bartolo I., Santantonio M., Coscia M.F., Monno R., De Vito D., et al. Epidemiological and virological investigation of a Norovirus outbreak in a resort in Puglia, Italy. BMC Infectious Disease 2007;7:135.
  • Rizzo C., Lunelli A., Pugliese A., Bella A., Manfredi P., Iannelli M., et al. Scenarios of diffusion and control of influenza pandemic in Italy. Option for the Control of Influenza VI 2007;253.
  • Rizzo C., Bella A., Viboud C., Simonsen L., Miller M.A., Rota M.C., et al. Trends for influenza-related death during pandemic and epidemic seasons, Italy, 1969-2001. Emerging Infectious Disease 2007;13(5):694-9.
  • Rota M.C., Cawthorne A., Bella A., Caporali M.G., Filia A., D'Ancona F., et al. Capture-recapture estimation of underreporting of legionellosis cases to the National Legionellosis Register: Italy 2002. Epidemiology and Infection 2007;135:1030-6.
  • Rota M.C., Cano-Portero R., Che D., Caporali M.G., Hernando V., Campese C. Clusters of travel associated Legionnaires' disease in Italy, Spain and France, july 2002 June 2006. Eurosurveillance 2007;12(11):1211-22.
  • Rota M.C., Bella A., Gabutti G., Giambi C., Filia A., Guido M., et al. Rubella seroprofile of the italian population: an 8-year comparison. Epidemiology and Infection 2007;135:555-62.
  • Tozzi A.E., Pandolfi E., Pastore Celentano L., Massari M., Salmaso S., Ciofi degli Atti M.L. Comparison of pertussis surveillance systems in Europe. Vaccine 2007;25:291-7.

2008

  • Ajelli M., Iannelli M., Manfredi P., Ciofi degli Atti M.L. Basic mathematical models for the temporal dynamics of HAV in medium-endemicity Italian areas. Vaccine 2008;26:1697-707.
  • Ansaldi F., Bruzzone M.B., Rota M.C., Bella A., Ciofi degli Atti M.L., Durando P., et al. Hepatitis A incidence and hospital based seroprevalence in Italy: a nation wide study. Eur J Epidemiol 2008;23:45-53.
  • Ciofi degli Atti ML., Merler S., Rizzo C., Ajelli M., Massari M., Manfredi P., Furlanello C., Scalia Tomba G., Iannelli M. Mitigation measures for pandemic influenza in Italy: an individual based model considering different scenarios. PlosOne, 2008:3(3)
  • Nicoletti L., Ciccozzi M., Marchi A., Fiorentini C., Martucci P., D'Ancona F., et al. Chikungunya and dengue viruses in travelers. Emerging Infectious Disease 2008;14(1):177-8.
  • Rizzo C., Lunelli A., Pugliese A., Bella A., Manfredi P., Tomba GS., Iannelli M., Ciofi degli Atti ML. Scenarios of diffusion and control of an influenza pandemic in Italy. Epidemiol Infect, 2008, feb 14, 1-8.
  • Seyler T., Rizzo C., Finarelli A.C., Po C., Alessio P., Sambri V., et al. Autochthonous Chikungunya virus transmission may have occurred in Bologna, Italy, during the summer 2007 outbreak. Eurosurveillance 2008;13(3).
   
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