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The Center’s Objectives

Mission and Objectives

The Inter-University Centre for Research on Influenza and Other Communicable Infections (CIRI-IT) serves as a national reference point in Italy for research, surveillance, and control of influenza and other transmissible diseases, particularly those preventable through vaccination.

In recent years, through partnerships with international research institutions, the Centre has also been involved in European projects.

For more information, visit the Research Projects section.

Our Objectives

  • Promote research on influenza and other communicable diseases at both the national and international level.
  • Design, organize, and manage national clinical-epidemiological and laboratory surveillance networks to assess the clinical, health, social, and economic impact of influenza and other transmissible diseases — both in the general population and in specific population groups — to support public health strategies.
  • Plan, coordinate, and conduct experimental and observational studies to evaluate the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of vaccines and specific treatments for communicable infections.
  • Conduct laboratory activities for the identification and characterization of pathogens of high relevance to public health.
  • Develop new methods for the rapid detection and characterization of emerging pathogens, in line with recommendations from international health agencies, aimed at implementing integrated and routine surveillance systems (combining epidemiological and laboratory data) to support national and regional strategic health plans in response to infectious disease emergencies.
  • Carry out validation studies of laboratory tests for the diagnosis of priority pathogens.
  • Plan, coordinate, and participate in mathematical modelling and Health Technology Assessment (HTA)projects in the field of disease prevention.
  • Promote the development and implementation of systems for the analysis of clinical-epidemiological and laboratory data using statistical techniques based on Big Data methodologies.
  • Contribute to the development of guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of communicable diseases.
  • Collaborate with European surveillance systems coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Foster technology transfer to industry through the development and implementation of research projects.
  • Design and implement research projects aimed at health promotion, targeting various population groups.
  • Promote scientific debate and disseminate research findings through publications in national and international journals.
  • Support educational initiatives, including conferences, congresses, and symposia on communicable diseases, to ensure continuing education for healthcare professionals and research personnel. Provide scientific and technical support to regional healthcare services.
  • Collaborate at national and international levels with scientific societies and research institutions.
  • Establish research grants and awards to support the Centre’s strategic goals.