About IBME
The Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine (IBME) at the University of Zurich (UZH) is a globally renowned interdisciplinary center committed to exploring the ethical, historical, social and policy dimensions of healthcare. As a hub for academic research and education, the IBME brings together scholars and practitioners from medicine, philosophy, law, history, and the social sciences. Through its comprehensive programs, the IBME prepares students, health professionals, and policymakers to address complex bioethical challenges with rigor, empathy, and historical awareness.
The Institute of Biomedical Ethics was founded in 2007 and expanded its remit in 2014 to include the History of Medicine. Today, the IBME comprises two Chairs, Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine, and a staff of over 65 members.
The IBME is part of the Medical Faculty at the University of Zurich and is affiliated with the University’s Centre for Ethics. Its members are actively involved in the Competence Center Medicine – Ethics – Law Helvetiae (MERH), the Crisis Competence Centre (CCC), the Digital Society Initiative (DSI), and other interdisciplinary structures at UZH. The institute hosts the medical track of the PhD programme Biomedical Ethics and Law, which is offered jointly with the Faculty of Law. IBME members also teach at the UZH Medical School and contribute to the Advanced Studies in Applied Ethics, as well as other innovative teaching formats.
The IBME is a designated World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center.
Vision
As a nationally and globally recognised leader in research and education in biomedical ethics and the history of medicine, we are committed to fostering academic excellence and intellectual freedom, while remaining attentive to the complex and pressing challenges facing our societies. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we seek to connect historical insights with contemporary medical challenges and ethical debates. We are dedicated to promoting dialogue between the medical sciences and the humanities, and to exploring the social, cultural, and scientific dimensions of medicine across time.
Mission
At IBME, we aim to foster impactful research, provide forward-looking education, and cultivate an inclusive environment that empowers the IBME team and its affiliates to contribute meaningfully to both the local community and the wider global society. In this endeavour, we are part of a collaborative culture, working closely with national and international partners – including healthcare professionals, universities, and the WHO. Our PhD program trains the next generation of leaders in biomedical ethics, policy and law.
We seek to inspire and equip students and researchers so they can address the ethical complexities of modern healthcare, while deepening understanding of the historical contexts that continue to shape medical practice today.
We aim to shape ethical practice in healthcare, inform the future of healthcare and public health through empirically informed ethical analysis and a rigorous investigation of medicine’s past, contribute to policy-making, and enrich public discourse on the evolving relationship between human values, medicine, and science.
We are committed to making our research and its societal relevance visible and accessible beyond academia. Drawing on public engagement and co-creation strategies, we ensure that our work reaches and benefits a wider audience, including patients and the public.