The Institute of Animal Pathology is part of the Vetsuisse Faculty at the University of Berne, Switzerland. It is comprised of three sections:

The Institute’s main activities are:

• Undergraduate Teaching in Pathology: includes the topics of general and organ specific pathology, applied diagnostic pathology, as well as clinical rotations in pathology

• Postgraduate Education: The major goal of the Institute is to train young veterinarians in a combined residency/PhD programme which comprises the postgraduate education in diagnostic veterinary pathology and biomedical research. The training in diagnostic pathology consists of a structured residency program aimed at preparing for board certification by the European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP). Training in biomedical research has the goal of obtaining a Ph.D degree issued by the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Berne, which is also open to candidates from the faculties of Medicine and Natural Sciences.

• Research: The general aim of the Institute’s research is to understand the molecular mechanisms of tissue homeostasis and related diseases. In particular, it focuses on translational medicine, i.e. it reaches from basic research to the patient. The major research areas are:
  1) Skin renewal with focus on epidermal stem cell biology/pathology and applied dermatopathology
  2) Host pathogen interaction of Clostridia and their toxins (in collaboration with the Institute of Veteirnary Bacteriology
  3) Oecopathology of fish and wildlife.
  
• Diagnostic Pathology: The Institute provides a service in diagnostic pathology including necropsies and biopsies of pet and food animals as well as exotic animals, wild life and fish. A main focus is dermatopathology. The Institute further fulfils a supervisory function for infectious diseases of food animals for the Federal Government, and is reference laboratory for enzootic diseases in fish. Diagnostic pathology forms the basis for teaching in veterinary pathology.