New home for world-leading Institute
Scientists at a new £60 million institute are to tackle challenges such as how to feed the world’s growing population.
Researchers from The Roslin Institute at the University have taken up residence in a new purpose purpose-built centre with partners from the SAC (Scottish Agricultural College).
Official opening
The building was officially opened in a ceremony attended by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond.
It was opened by the chief executives of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the SAC and the Principal of the University of Edinburgh.
Video report
Watch a film clip about the new Roslin Institute building, its role in cutting-edge research and how work carried out will help address issues facing society.
Design
We have an iconic building that is instantly recognisable. It is designed to maximise cooperation amongst our experts.
The iconic building - with a design based on a pair of chromosomes - encourages collaboration among the 500 scientists who work there.
A rainbow progression of coloured panels link offices with research laboratories, as well as open plan spaces with break out areas to discuss ideas.
The Roslin Institute building, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, has received key funding from the BBSRC.
It has received a commendation from Architecture Scotland and been nominated for a number of additional building and design awards.
The experts based here will be able to deliver top-class research on livestock health and productivity - work which will prove valuable both for animal and human health, with particular emphasis on the kind of comparative medicine that benefits both. I am confident they will deliver new knowledge and innovation and generate new strength in the Scottish economy.
Research
The research is aimed at improving the health and welfare of livestock animals and the sustainability of the livestock sector.
Expertise covers areas such as immunology and infectious disease, clinical sciences, genetics and genomics, developmental biology and diseases affecting the nervous system.
Scientists address issues from reproduction and fertility to the threats of diseases such as avian flu and tuberculosis.
Researchers at the Institute also place a strong emphasis on comparative medicine where research can be applied to improve both animal and human health.
These high-quality facilities will enable scientists to do research that supports and enhances human and animal health, food security, and social and economic well being in the UK and beyond.
Easter Bush
The Institute, sited at the University's Easter Bush Campus, replaces the former home of The Roslin Institute, where Dolly the Sheep was cloned, in the nearby village of Roslin.
The institute is incorporated into and located alongside the University Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
The new building forms part of a £100 million development at the University’s Easter Bush campus.
This includes a new teaching building for the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
The kinds of research that are needed to address today’s ‘Grand Challenges’ span the range from new fundamental understanding of biology to practical innovation. That is what is so appealing about the combination of scientists from SAC and the University cheek by jowl in the same building.
Photography credit: Norrie Russell, The Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh