Presentation of the Centre
Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo is a nationally and internationally prominent teaching and research hospital of public nature. An academic medical center among the most important in Europe. It is characterized by a strong vocation for the integration of scientific research, care and teaching and the provision of inpatient and outpatient services of high speciality and, above all, for highly complex diseases.
First designated as a Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS) in 1982, the San Matteo Institute has been continuously reaffirmed in this role in the years since.
The IRCCS has more than 1,000 accredited beds and over 3,500 employees.
In 2024, the Foundation produced 1008 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, accumulating a total annual impact factor of 6400. This reflects a consistent and high-quality scientific output over the years. These publications span various medical disciplines, including cancer, transplantation, cardiology, infectious diseases, and rare diseases.
Main Clinical and Research Activities at San Matteo
Pediatric / Adult Hemato-Oncology and Medical Oncology Area (Cancer Center)
San Matteo hospital has a great history of stem cell transplantation (including from alternative donors), related to blood cancers of both adult and pediatric patients, and more recently to solid tumors in the autologous setting. It has an in-house Cell Factory, authorized by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) to carry out the activities of manufacturing advanced therapy drugs. In collaboration with the Cell Factory, Pediatric Oncohematology is a reference center for administering advanced therapy drugs, such as somatic cell therapy drugs and gene therapy drugs.
Over the last 15 years, significant investments in technology, personnel dedicated to care and research in medical Oncology, radiotherapy, hematology and specialised surgeries allowed the establishment, in 2023, of a multidisciplinary cancer center, now in the phase of OECI accreditation.
Currently, the San Matteo hospital, with all the medical, surgical and supportive care specialities, assures cancer treatment to be 360°, as all possible side effects other than cancer and comorbidity conditions, can be addressed immediately within the same facility. Surgical activity is performed with a wide range of technological aid, such as robotic systems, laparoscopic, CT-, ultrasound- and radiofrequency-assisted equipment, allowing cutting-edge minimally invasive, safe and complication-free interventions, applying pre- and post-operational management which significantly minimize the recovery period and days of hospitalization.
The clinical and research activities of the Cancer Center also take advantage of the local network of institutes, including the National Center of Hadron Therapy, and the University of Pavia. It collaborates closely with leading national and international institutions.
Cardiothoracovascular Area
San Matteo Hospital has a strong characterization in the cardiology area, both clinical and interventional, as well as a long tradition in the activity of cardiac, pulmonary and cardiopulmonary transplantation, being one of the transplant centers nationwide.
The activity in the cardiothoracovascular area includes all the specialized branches of cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesia and cardioranimation, pulmonology, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, as well as the surgical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease is also home to the National Reference Center for the Surgical Treatment of Chronic Pulmonary Thromboembolic Hypertension (IPCTE).
Infectious Disease Area – Microbiology and Virology
Policlinico San Matteo, which has a long tradition and vocation in infectious diseases, is already the leader of a national program on emerging infectious diseases. Here, an internationally advanced center for the treatment of infectious diseases and the management of any future emergencies will be built. Namely, a high isolation level ward where patients with highly infectious diseases will be received, within which Bio-Security (BSLBiosafety Level) 3 or 4 measures will be applied including, for example, negative pressure ventilation, ventilation system with constant air changes, scheduled accessibility, special handling of waste or biological samples.
Among many other areas of excellence are rheumatology, rare diseases, including the national reference center for diagnosis and treatment of amyloidosis, gastroenterology, solid organ transplantation, and immunology.
Core Facilities
San Matteo Hospital is a center of excellence equipped with state-of-the-art technology and highly experienced professionals specialising in the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of cancer, as well as in translational and basic clinical research.
The collaboration with the National Center of Hadron Therapy nearby, the IRCCS Mondino (neurology) and ICS Maugeri (rehabilitation and several medical specialities) and the network of general Hospitals of the territorial health and social care agency (ASST) are additional core facilities located in the Pavia area facilitating the overall care of the patient and their family.
The Palliative Care Unit, mainly dealing with patients with cancer, is a facility located in the Belgioioso site of the Hospital, about 20 km from Pavia, including the Hospice and the Day Hospice.
Education
The Foundation, home of several training schools of medical specialities, has a formal agreement with the Medical School of the University of Pavia, a member of the Coimbra Group (the association of the historical European universities) for undergraduate and postgraduate medical teaching in Italian and English at the international level. The Foundation promotes exchanges with research structures abroad to foster collaboration in clinical trials and translational research. In addition, it is a recognised hub for cancer research and clinical trials, and serves as a leading training center for new generations of physicians, researchers, and nurses.