Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza was founded by Saint Pio of Pietrelcina in San Giovanni Rotondo, in southern Italy, and was officially inaugurated in 1956. From its inception, the institution was conceived not merely as a place for medical treatment, but as a tangible expression of compassion, dignity, and respect for human suffering. Known worldwide as “Padre Pio’s Hospital,” Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza has progressively evolved into a symbol of excellence in healthcare, uniquely combining advanced medical science with a profoundly human and spiritual approach to care. As a not-for-profit hospital, its mission has always been guided by service rather than profit, placing the patient at the center of every clinical, scientific, and organizational decision.
Over the decades, the hospital has achieved national and international recognition for the quality of its medical services and the professionalism of its healthcare staff, while remaining faithful to the founding vision of Saint Pio. He regarded care for the sick as a sacred duty and believed that scientific progress should always be accompanied by compassion. This enduring balance between technical excellence and human warmth continues to define the identity of Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, making it a distinctive institution within the Italian and European healthcare landscape.
The hospital is fully integrated into the Italian National Health Service, thereby ensuring universal access to care while maintaining exceptionally high standards in diagnosis, treatment, and patient support. Its designation as a highly specialized recognized religious hospital reflects both its historical roots and its sustained commitment to ethical and spiritual values. At the same time, this status enables the institution to operate at the forefront of medical innovation, harmonizing faith-inspired principles with cutting-edge scientific practice.
A major milestone in the hospital’s development occurred on July 16, 1991, when Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza was formally designated a Research Hospital (IRCCS – Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) by decree of the Italian Ministry of Health and University and Scientific Research. This recognition acknowledged the hospital’s expanding role in scientific research alongside its clinical activities. Initially, the officially recognized research area focused on genetics and hereditary diseases, fields in which the institution had already demonstrated significant expertise and innovation.
As an IRCCS, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza has embraced a dual mission: the delivery of advanced clinical care and the conduct of high-level scientific research aimed at improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Research activities are carried out in close collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Health and with leading research centers across Italy and Europe, fostering a translational approach that ensures rapid transfer of scientific advances into clinical practice.
More recently, major regulatory reforms have reshaped the Italian research hospital system. Following the introduction of Legislative Decree no. 200 of December 23, 2022, concerning the reorganization of Italian Research Hospitals, and the subsequent Decree of the Italian Ministry of Health dated October 23, 2023, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza received renewed recognition for its scientific excellence. Under this updated framework, the hospital is officially recognized as a Research Hospital for the thematic areas of Oncology, Neurology, and Diagnosis, reflecting both consolidated strengths and strategic priorities for future development.
Throughout its history, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza has remained steadfastly committed to its founding principle: the relief of suffering in all its forms. Through compassionate patient care, advanced clinical practice, and pioneering scientific research, the hospital continues to embody the vision of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. Today, it stands as a leading institution where science and humanity converge, offering hope, healing, and dignity to patients while contributing to the advancement of medicine at national and international levels.
Within this institutional context, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza participates as a clinical partner in the ThrombUS+ European Project, which involves multiple academic and clinical institutions across Europe. The Thrombosis and Hemostasis Unit, working in close collaboration with specialists in Vascular Medicine, has been actively involved since the earliest phases of the project. The Unit contributes specific expertise in the field of pregnancy- and hormone-related thrombosis, a core area of focus within the ThrombUS+ initiative.
These thrombotic conditions are of particular clinical relevance because they frequently affect young women who are otherwise healthy and lack traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Pregnancy, the puerperium, and exposure to endogenous or exogenous hormones represent unique physiological states characterized by profound changes in hemostatic balance, vascular function, and inflammatory pathways, which may unmask an underlying thrombotic predisposition.
In this framework, the Thrombosis and Hemostasis Unit maintains a strong research interest in improving risk stratification, elucidating pathophysiological mechanisms, and optimizing prevention and management strategies for pregnancy- and hormone-associated thrombosis. This focus is fully aligned with the objectives of the ThrombUS+ European Project and reflects the Unit’s longstanding clinical and scientific commitment to the care of women at risk of thrombotic complications.
