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Partner institutions

The Messerli Research Institute is divided into:

Comparative Cognition

Tracing the thinking and feeling of animals. 

Head: Professor Ludwig Huber

Comparative Medicine

One Health: factors influencing allergies in humans and animals. 

Head: Professor Erika Jensen-Jarolim

Ethics and Human-Animal Studies

From practice to theory and back.

Head: Professor Herwig Grimm


Associated centers and research partners


Interdisciplinary teaching

Our international Master's programme in Human-Animal Relationship

  • Our teaching is led by our research.
  • Research is therefore an integral part of the academic curriculum in the Interdisciplinary Master in Human-Animal Interactions.
  • IMHAI is designed to communicate and develop  guidelines for the responsible handling of animals.
  • Students receive research- and competency-oriented education at high international standards.

Scientific Advisory Board

The Scientific Advisory Board of the MRI is the external advisory body to assure scientific quality, up-to-date research and focusing of the research at the MRI. The main issues are the strategic orientation of the research, the institute’s international position and networking.

  • Peter Sandøe (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), Chair of the Scientific advisory board
  • Sabine Werner (ETH Zurich, Switzerland)
  • Josep Call (University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom)
  • Thomas Kündig (University of Zurich, Switzerland)