The institute of clinical pharmacology with its outpatient clinic of hepatology  was the first Swiss institution devoted to clinical reseach in hepatology. For the past  40 years it has been a nationally and internationally recognized center of excellence in hepatology. This is documented by the fact that its professors have been called to prominent international positions such as:

• Professor R. Preisig (Founder of the Institute) was a founding member of EASL (European Association for the Study of the Liver).
• Professor G. Paumgartner - then a junior faculty member to become later director of one of the prime clinics in Hepatology in Europe - was secretary of the scientific committee of EASL (a misnomer - the secretary runs the society). Later he was editor of the  Journal of Hepatology, the prime European Journal of the discipline
• Professor J. Reichen was secretary of  EASL (see above), Co-Editor of the Journal of Hepatology and of Hepatology (the American equivalent of J Hepatol); actually, he serves EASL as a councillor for education.
• Professor J.F. Dufour is currently a member of the Scientific commitee of EASL