Biomedical Sciences

Latest news

All the latest news from Biomedical Sciences.

New research published in the Journal of Anatomy brings tissue engineered replacements closer to the clinic

Congratulations to the Paxton Lab on their recent publication in the Journal of Anatomy which focussed on the anatomical design of tissue engineered replacements. ​​​​​​​

Success at the CBBC'S 2024 China-Scotland Business Awards

We are delighted to announce that the Zhejiang University - University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) has won the ‘Educational Partnership of the Year’ Award at the CBBC'S 2024 China-Scotland Business Awards!

Progress in tissue engineered bone production: new publication from the Paxton Lab

Paxton Lab PhD researcher, Vinothini Prabhakaran, and colleagues have published a new study focussed on the production of tissue-engineered bone macro-tissues.

Professor Tom Gillingwater Elected Honorary Fellow of the Anatomical Society

Congratulations to Tom on this high award from the Anatomical Society!

Wellcome Discovery Award success

Congratulations to Prof Ian Duguid (Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and SIDB Group Leader ) who has received a £3M Wellcome Discovery Award to explore neural mechanisms underlying voluntary motor control.

MRC grant success

Congratulations to Dr Calvin Chan and Profs John Mason and David Price (Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences) who have been awarded an MRC grant to model and investigate underlying causes of structural and functional brain defects in PAX6 haploinsufficiency patients using cerebral organoids.

Cousin lab publish new findings in Cell Reports

Congratulations to the Cousin lab on their new study which discovered a new function for an essential molecule for brain communication and offers new hope in improving brain function in individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. 

HEA Fellowship success

Congratulations to all our staff who have recently gained Fellowships from the Higher Education Academy.

Do bats hold the secret to longer life and inflammatory diseases in humans?

Scientists have discovered a protein in bats that could unlock new strategies to combat ageing and inflammatory diseases in humans.

New Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales

Congratulations to Prof Jamie Davies, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, who was recently elected a Fellow to the Learned Society of Wales.

Dementia study shows how toxic proteins spread

Fresh insights into the spread of damaging proteins that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease could hold the key to stopping the condition progressing, a study says.

Tissue and Cell Engineering Society Oral Presentation Award

Congratulations to Vinothini Prabhakaran, a PhD student from the Paxton Lab, won 2nd place for her oral presentation at the recent International Society meeting TERMIS-EU 2023.

Diversity Prize for Edinburgh neuroscientist (article by SCOPE magazine)

Edinburgh neuroscientist, Arish Mudra Rakshasa-Loots has been announced as the 2023 winner of the ALBA-FKNE Diversity Prize – recognising his outstanding contributions to promoting equality and diversity in the brain sciences.

CMVM staff recognition awards

Congratulations to Morag Laidlaw, Head of BMS Research Management, for winning the Outstanding Colleague award for her leadership of the Deanery of Biomedical Sciences research finance team.

Ferrier Prize Lecture 2023 - Prof Richard Morris

Congratulations to Professor Richard Morris, winner of the Ferrier Medal and Lecture, who presented his prize lecture on 20 April 2023 at the Royal Society in London.

Neuroscience student through to Three Minute Thesis Final 2023

Congratulations to Arish Mudra Rakshasa, a Neuroscience PhD student, who is one of nine finalists going through to the Three Minute Thesis Competition Final on the 21st June.

Fertility conference win for Cara and Scarlett

Congratulation to Cara and Scarlett, final year Reproductive Biology BSc and Biomedical Sciences BSc students, who came joint first in the SRF Reproduction and Fertility early career prize! Read their top tips for getting a summer placement and how to get the most out of it.

New paper in Neuron sheds new light on the fragile X protein mystery

A new study from the Osterweil lab, (Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences), shows that brain cells from mice that model fragile X syndrome — the most common inherited cause of autism — show excessive protein breakdown. By normalizing that process it reverses other molecular alterations — which suggests new avenues for treatment strategies.

Rowing the Atlantic (article by Charlotte Stapley for the Bulletin magazine)

This December, Rufus Mitchell-Heggs, a Computational Neuroscience PhD student in the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, is taking part in the world’s toughest row to raise money for charity.

CMVM Staff recognition awards 2022

This years’ CMVM Staff recognition awards ceremony held in the Playfair Library were a wonderful celebration of the work of all staff across the College.

Anatomy Public Workshops return in 2023

Anatomy@Edinburgh are pleased to announce the planned return of the Anatomy Public Workshop Series, for anyone interested in learning more about the human body.

Blog post by Student Rep Aditi Jain

Student Rep and Pharmacology student Aditi Jain blogs about her tour of the AstraZeneca Discovery Centre in Cambridge.

A celebration of the scientific career of Prof Gareth Leng

The Journal of Neuroendocrinology has published a special issue to mark Professor Gareth Leng's Festschrift.

Richard Morris wins Ferrier Medal 2022

Congratulations to Professor Richard Morris (Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences) who is this year's recipient of the Ferrier Medal, awarded by the Royal Society to recognise his achievements in advancing the understanding of the physiological and psychological processes underlying memory.

Drug shows promise for motor neuron disease

Computer artwork of nerve cells or neurons firing.
A drug typically used to treat enlarged prostates and high blood pressure has shown promise as a potential new therapy for motor neuron disease, according to a new study.

Dr Jennifer Paxton named as New Fellow of the Year by the Anatomical Society

Congratulations to Dr Jennifer Paxton, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, who was awarded the title of New Fellow of the Year from the Anatomical Society.

Congratulations to Dr Carole Torsney EUSA Personal Tutor of the Year 2022

Dr Carole Torsney (Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences) has been awarded the EUSA Personal Tutor of the Year award 2022.

Taking the plunge - 100km charity swim around Arran

Dr Andre Phillips, Teaching Fellow in Reproductive Biology for the Biomedical Teaching Office, chats to Charlotte Davidson about his mission to swim around the Isle of Arran next month for teenage mental health charity Papyrus.

Survey of design and analysis training across the UK selected for PTAS grant award

Congratulations to Dr Crispin Jordan and Dr Nicola Romano and their colleagues who have been awarded a grant from the Principals Teaching Award Scheme for their project 'How is study design and analysis taught in the life sciences? A survey of undergraduate programmes across the UK'.

Prof Jamie Davies honoured as Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellow

Huge congratulation to Prof Jamie Davies (Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences), who is one of 80 new Fellows elected to join the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) for 2022.

Celebrating the Patrick Wild Centre this #WorldAutismDay

This World Autism Day we are celebrating the work carried out by our colleagues at the Patrick Wild Centre.

New Masters in Cancer Biology and Precision Oncology aims to support the drive for personalised patient treatment

We are delighted to launch a new online Masters programme in Cancer Biology and Precision Oncology, which has been created by academics and specialist oncologists at the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

Get career-ready with the Concept to Consumer Life Sciences Masterclasses

Are you nearing the end of your studies and don’t know what to do after graduation? You may be panicking, but you don’t have to be.

Preparing yourself for life after University: Concept to Consumer Masterclass

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Edinburgh, studying Anatomy and Development. I had previously joined the Concept to Consumer masterclasses in my first and fourth year, hence this year was my third time attending the masterclasses.

International Women’s Day 2022

On Tuesday 8th March 2022, the world celebrates Women's Day! This year's #BreakTheBias campaign aims to educate and create a gender-equal world - a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination.

Five Ways to Wellbeing

Thursday 3 March is University Mental Health Day. Here are some ways staff can check in on their own mental health, and have meaningful discussions with others.

Nature article: the balance between family life and a career in science

Dr Rachel James' (Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences) return to academia on a part-time fellowship is this month's feature article in Nature.

Neuron article: How the metabolically-expensive, mammalian brain adapts to food scarcity

Congratulations to the Rochefort Lab for their published findings in Neuron on how food-restriction affects neuronal activity in the neocortex.

Research Insights: Our viral future

Dr Richard Sloan and Dr Aaron Trent-Irving explore the origins of viruses that have shaped our lives and how similarities between them could help scientists pinpoint potential sources of future pandemics.

Commemorative plaque unveiling - sponsored by The Physiological Society

A Physiological Society Blue Plaque has been unveiled in honour of the pioneering medical scientist Professor Mary Pickford (1902-2002).

The hidden REF 2021

Congratulations to all the team involved in the 'Guide to Pharmacology Project' which won the 'applications of research' award at The hidden Ref 2021 . The hidden REF is a national competition which celebrates the range of important research achievements that may not fit neatly into a REF submission.  

Anatomical embalming fluids neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus

A multi-centre study, involving members of the Anatomy@Edinburgh team, has just published their research findings in the Journal of Anatomy showing that 20 of the most common embalming fluids used to preserve donor material in the UK and Ireland can neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene grant awards 2021

Congratulations to PhD students Dr Keneth Kasozi and Husein Bagulo, from Prof Sue Welburn's lab, on their grant awards from the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (RSTMH).