Information and Communication Technologies
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Laboratory promotes the development and management of information systems based on emerging computing and communication technologies to support the digital management of veterinary activities. It identifies needs and develops systems capable of generating and processing information to support animal health and welfare, food safety, and veterinary public health. These systems are designed for use by the Institute, the National Health Service, and the international organisations with which it collaborates.
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Laboratory was established over 30 years ago (originally known as the Data Processing Centre, CED) with the aim of driving the development of innovative management methods for veterinary public health services. Since its foundation in 1981, the Laboratory has been part of the technical-scientific services within the Institute's organisational structure, standing apart from the traditional approach of public institutions of the time, which primarily focused on administrative support. This cross-disciplinary nature became a key strength, fostering continuous knowledge transfer among professionals from diverse backgrounds, such as IT specialists, engineers, veterinarians, biologists, and administrative staff, ultimately delivering effective and efficient systems and services.
Today, the Laboratory, now called Information and Communication Technology (ICT), leads the development and management of information systems, data collection, and data analysis using the latest IT and communication technologies to digitally manage veterinary activities. It coordinates the Institute’s units responsible for developing information systems, data management, and the administration of hardware and software resources, while providing specialist guidance to steer research activities in line with national and international strategies.
The Laboratory identifies needs and develops information systems that generate and process data to support animal health and welfare, food safety, and veterinary public health. These systems serve the Institute, the National Health Service, and international organisations.
It also coordinates activities related to the tasks assigned by current legislation to the National Animal Identification Services Centre (CSN).
Through its specialised personnel, the Laboratory provides advice and services to international organisations such as the WOAH, FAO, and WHO, as well as the European Commission, European agencies (e.g. EFSA, ECDC), the Italian Ministry of Health, regional veterinary services, other Zooprophylactic Institutes, non-health public institutions, law enforcement authorities (e.g. NAS), and breeders' and consumers' associations.
Finally, the Laboratory is also responsible for the economic management of its operations and associated units.
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Luigi Possenti
Head
Born in Teramo in 1969, he graduated in Electronic Engineering in 1996 from the University of L’Aquila. He is an expert in Information Systems for Animal Identification and Registration, animal health, and food safety, with over twenty years of experience in the development of complex information systems in the field of veterinary public health, as well as in the design of web applications and distributed web-based systems.
Born in Teramo in 1969, he graduated in Electronic Engineering in 1996 from the University of L’Aquila. He is an expert in Information Systems for Animal Identification and Registration, animal health, and food safety, with over twenty years of experience in the development of complex information systems in the field of veterinary public health, as well as in the design of web applications and distributed web-based systems.
He began his professional career in 1998 at Olivetti Sanità, working on the development and management of information systems for the veterinary services of the Abruzzo Region. In 1999, on behalf of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise (IZSAM), he was involved in the design and development of the National Cattle Database (BDN), commissioned by the Italian Ministry of Health. This was later extended to cover all livestock species, followed by the creation of various related veterinary information systems.
He has been serving as Chief Information Officer at IZSAM since 2001 and has been actively involved in projects on animal identification and registration systems. Since 2002, he has supported the Italian Ministry of Health as a technical expert in the European Commission’s working group on animal identification and registration.
In 2008, he was appointed—on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Health—as a member of the European Commission’s Task Force on Interoperability between Member States for the Electronic Exchange of Cattle Data (Bovex Project).
Since 2009, he has been Head of the National Service Centre at IZSAM, which, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, manages National Livestock Databases and Veterinary Information Systems.
He has participated in several national and international projects on animal identification, animal health, and food safety. Most recently, he coordinated the development of the National Information System for Electronic Veterinary Prescriptions and Pharmacovigilance.
Since April 2021, he has been Acting Head of the Laboratory for Information and Communication Technologies at IZSAM, and in April 2024, he was officially appointed as Head of the unit.
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Digital Management
Go to the UnitThe Unit ensures the availability of services required for the development, updating, operation, and maintenance of the technological infrastructures managed by the Institute. Specifically, it manages and maintains the internal data centre, ensuring the continuous operation of the services provided to both the Institute and external stakeholders (e.g. Ministry, Regions, etc.). The unit also oversees all technological infrastructures used within the Institute, including the development and updating of hardware and base software, endpoints, corporate databases, servers and services, as well as network systems and fixed and mobile communication infrastructures.
Data Analysis and Information Quality
Go to the UnitThe Unit ensures the maintenance and support of all information systems and applications developed by the Institute. It monitors the quality of the software produced and used within the Institute and conducts advanced analyses of the data collected and managed through these systems. The unit implements specialised technical-scientific guidelines in research, development, and innovation activities in the field of information technology, while complying with national and international institutional strategies and aligning its work with the Ministry of Health's requirements.
Information Systems
Go to the UnitThe Unit is responsible for the development and maintenance of information systems and software applications that support the activities of the Institute, with a particular focus on the SILAB system, as well as for meeting the needs of external clients within the National Health Service—from the Ministry of Health to the competent national authorities of EU member states, WOAH, WHO, and FAO, or upon request from these same international organisations. The unit implements the specialist technical-scientific guidelines related to software development, supporting research, development, and innovation activities in line with institutional strategies defined at national and international levels. In particular, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, the unit ensures the development and maintenance of national veterinary information systems, livestock registries, and the information system for pharmacovigilance and electronic veterinary prescriptions.