The Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori “Dino Amadori” – IRST is an IRCCS (institute for hospitalisation and care of a scientific nature) dedicated to treatment, research, and training in the field of oncology. Although IRST is a subject of the Health Service in the Emilia-Romagna Region and operates following the most accredited international experiences, it adopts the “population” organisational and managerial approach, promoting a centralised coordination of oncological functions and activities with its primary focus on meeting the needs of citizens.

IRST and the AUSL of the Romagna promote a coordinated governance of oncology based on the principles of cooperation and collaboration between the nodes of the network, but the skills of the single centres and the proximity of care for all citizens are also encouraged (Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Network).

The IRST project was born from a public-private alliance between non-profit organisations. The form chosen to organise IRST was that of a limited liability company (S.r.l.) with a majority public capital (governed by Legislative Decree 175/16). This is a non-profit company with the characteristics of a Social Enterprise, including the prohibition on the distribution of profits and the obligation to invest them in carrying out the institutional activities envisaged by the mission. In 2020 IRST was legally established as a publicly controlled private law company.

Since March 2012, IRST has been recognised as an institute for hospitalisation and care of a scientific nature (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico- IRCCS) for “Advanced Therapies in Medical Oncology”. IRST’s Radiotherapy and Skin Cancer Unit are its most recent sites to gain IRCCS status (Ministry of Health Decree of 9 August 2021).