The Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS) is the main Italian research institute in the biomedical and public health field. It is the technical and scientific body of the Italian National Health Service.
The mission of ISS is the promotion and protection of national and international public health through research, surveillance, regulation, control, prevention, communication, counselling and training. The ISS produces knowledge through research and trials and disseminates scientific knowledge and evidence to decision-makers, professional workers and citizens in order to protect and promote public health.