The Veterinary Public Health Institute (VPHI) is an institute of the VetSuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland. VPH deals with the surveillance, control and prevention of zoonoses, animal diseases and animal welfare-related events. Diseases transmitted directly or through products of animal origin to humans are an area of great VPH relevance - with almost 70% of all newly emerging human diseases originating from animals.

 The collaboration between SAFOSO and the VPHI consists of ongoing activities at various levels, including co-supervision of graduate students and collaborative research projects. The collaboration was formalised in 2012 with an agreement which provides SAFOSO staff the status of adjunct researchers of the University of Bern and provides a framework and solid basis for future collaboration and joint projects.