The Institute for Experimental Pathology operates according to a statute of the Icelandic parliament enacted in 1990.
It is an academic establishment and is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine University of Iceland, with a special governing board and an independent budget.
The predominant aspects of the activities are basic and service research in veterinary medicin. The expertise is on the following disciplines: prionology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, pathology, immunology, biochemistry and molecular biology.
Both animal husbandry and general farming are conducted at the Institute in connection with production, services and research.