IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (ISNB)

The Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna (ISNB) is an institute for treatment and research (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a CarattereScientifico – IRCCS) that was established by Ministerial Decree of 12/4/2011 as an independent healthcare clinic within the Local Health Trust of Bologna (AUSL di Bologna). The latter delivers healthcare to about 880,000 people in 45 municipalities over an area of 3,000 square km.

Besides delivering neurological, neurosurgical and neuroradiological health care to the wide catchment area of the Local Health Trust, the Institute sets a regional benchmark for the study and treatment of Epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Headaches, Narcolepsy, Severe developmental disorders, ALS, Pediatric neurosurgical diseases, Hypothalamic-pituitary  and neurovascular disorders, Rare neurological and neuromuscular diseases, and other nervous system diseases with lower incidence.

Research is closely consistent with the recognized scientific fields and is strongly translational. It is carried out not only in the neuroscience fields traditionally studied in Bologna (Epilepsy, Sleep disorders, Headaches, Movement disorders, Autonomic nervous system disorders) but also in other qualified research fields related to neurodegenerative diseases, neuromuscular diseases, biomolecular and genetic diagnostics, and new technologies for neurosurgery and neuroradiology.

Most of the investigations are performed in cooperation with prominent Italian and international research groups and to date over 60 national and international institutes have been research partners of ISNB.

At ISNB manifold educational activities take place regularly  in close cooperation with the University of Bologna. Here the Postgraduate School of Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Neuropathophisiology Technologist Degree Programme facilitiesare located, furthermore the Institutehosts internships from a variety of Graduate and Postgraduate Programmes.ISNB promotes continuous educational training and regularly holds scientific events in cooperation with national and international experts.

Over its first five years of activity ISNB has held over 400 among refresher courses, congresses, seminars, and clinical cases discussions, thereby granting over 80,000 CME credits. Researchers at ISNB have participated in over 300 congresses providing scientific input that was the result of studies and investigations conducted in the Institute.