Historical notes
Organization
The Institute of Neuroscience was born within the reform of the National Research Council (CNR), sanctioned by Legislative Decree no. 127 of 4 June 2003, entitled “Reorganization of the National Research Council”.
One of the main objectives of the reform was to organize research by thematic areas, creating structures – the Institutes – grouped in turn into Departments, with the task of coordinating and integrating the activities of groups and laboratories with similar interests. Another objective was the reduction of spending centers, obtained through the merger or consolidation of previously independent structures. The reorganization of the scientific network could occur according to two criteria: by research themes (more coherent on a scientific level but complex to manage) or by geographical areas.
The creation of the Institute of Neuroscience, the result of the merger of several CNR structures active in the field, was promoted in particular by Prof. Lamberto Maffei (director of the Institute of Neurophysiology of Pisa) and Prof. Francesco Clementi (Centre for the Study of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology of Milan). The criterion of "cultural proximity" between the structures was favored, while trying to avoid excessive fragmentation, so as not to hinder the management simplification that was the basis of the reform. This led to a certain thematic heterogeneity, which is still present.
The official birth certificate of the Institute is represented by the regulatory provision of the President of the CNR, Prof. Lucio Bianco (no. 15797 of 12 February 2001).
Structures merged into the IN at the time of its establishment:
• Institute of Neurophysiology of Pisa
• Institute of Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology of Rome
• Center for the Study of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology of Milan
• Center for the Study of Biomembranes of Padua
• Center for the Study of Muscle Biology and Physiopathology of Padua
• Center for the Study of Aging of Padua
The main headquarters of the Institute was established in Pisa, while the structures of the other cities became territorial sections: Rome, Milan and Padua
In June 2003, with an act of the director of the IN later formalized in provision no. 16589 of 25 February 2004 (signed by commissioner A. De Maio), a section of the Institute of Neurogenetics and Neuropharmacology of Cagliari also became part of the Institute. In particular, it was the staff coming from the former Study Center for Neuropharmacology, established in 1989. This expansion led to the creation of an additional territorial office.
The structure of the Institute underwent a major change in 2010, with the separation of the Rome section, which merged with the Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN), as part of a reorganization of the neuroscientific activities of the CNR in the Roman area (Provision no. 5 of 12 January 2011).
In 2017, the secondary branch of Parma was established (Provision no. 119 of 26 September 2017).
Direction of the Institute
• Prof. Lamberto Maffei – Director until 30 November 2008
• Dr. Lucia Galli – Interim Director from 1 December 2008 to 18 May 2009
• Prof. Tullio Pozzan – Director from 19 May 2009 to 11 February 2013
• Dr. Mario Zoratti – Acting Director from 11 February 2013 to 30 June 2014
• Prof. Michela Matteoli – Director from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2018
• Dr. Giancarlo Colombo – Acting Director. from July 1, 2018 to September 1, 2019
• Prof. Michela Matteoli – Director from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2023
• Dr. Giancarlo Colombo – Acting Director from September 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024
• Dr. Michela Fagiolini – Director from October 1, 2024 to today