The Institute of Communication and Health, founded in 2007, is a heavily research-oriented institution that operates to a large degree on external funding. On the side of teaching, it contributes to the University’s bachelor programme, to a Master in Communication, Management and Health (in collaboration with Virginia Tech University) and if offers a joint Master's programme in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication with Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan.

Research at ICH comprises four focal areas at present:

• Area 1: Health Literacy and Empowerment
• Area 2: Interpersonal and Mediated Communication in the Life Course
• Area 3: Cultural Factors in Health Promotion
• Area 4: Risk Communication and Health Information Seeking

The ICH currently is staffed with 13 members, including professors, researchers, PhD students and scientific collaborators.