IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia
Saint John of God Clinical Research Centre - Brescia
The IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientif ico) St. John of God Clinical Research Center, Brescia, Italy, also commonly
known as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian, as the Brothers Hospitallers of the Order are called, is a national
Centre for Research and Care for Mental Disorders.
The Institute has existed for 120 years; in 1996 it was appointed as a Scientif ic Institute. The Center carries out extensive research
activities in the f ield of neuroscience and has been funded by the Italian Ministry of Health. It is a leading center in the research and
the care of mental and cognitive disorders, and has strong connections with leading academic
centers worldwide. With 244 beds for inpatient care and an intense outpatient
activity, about 4,500 persons with Alzheimer’s disease or associated disorders and 2,000
with mental disorders are treated yearly. Research is the primary function of the Institute
and that is undertaken within several units that contribute to the Institute's research
output.
More than 50 full-time researchers work in preclinical
and clinical labs and produce a number of papers published
in peer reviewed journals (on average 95 publications
for year in the last f ive years with an impact
factor of 380 per year). The Institute has a long experience
in the coordination of and participation to international
multi-centre research projects. Experimental
work is closely linked with care and that is why, while
staying at the Center, a User may be contacted and
invited to participate in a scientif ic project, of course
always subject to informed consent. Research programmes
are an essential activity in the field of care
because they make it possible to discover new cures
and treatments in the interests of the User and, more
generally speaking, of the whole community.
The Institute has an active role in teaching at the Università di Brescia and the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. As a result, research units also provide unique training
opportunities for students.
