Research environment

You will study in state-of-the-art laboratories at the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, based at a vibrant biomedical research campus.

Institute for Regeneration and Repair

The programme is hosted at the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR), part of Edinburgh Medical School. The Institute incorporates the Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM), the Centre for Inflammation Research (CIR) and the Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH). IRR brings together world-leading fundamental stem cell, inflammation, reproductive health and regenerative medicine research with established clinical excellence to deliver a "bench-to-bedside" approach to address the challenges posed by major diseases.

State-of-the-art research facilities

IRR houses state-of-the-art laboratory space and various centralised facilities that are operated by expert facility managers, including tissue culture, flow cytometry, cell sorting, specialist microscopy, imaging and high content screening, transgenics service and histology facilities. The CRM building houses a clinical translation unit, enabling the production and culturing of cells at GMP-grade (Good Manufacturing Practice) that are suitable for therapeutic applications. Join former PhD student Sophie Quick for a virtual tour of CRM.

Explore CRM research facilities

Explore CIR research facilities

Research and student community

Key to IRR’s philosophy is that interdisciplinary research, collaborations with other University centres, and the use of Edinburgh’s superb clinical research infrastructure will enable the application of regenerative medicine to a wide range of biological problems and diseases. Students on our programme are encouraged to learn from and contribute to the Institute’s drive to translate their scientific outputs into clinically relevant applications.

Scientific and social events are integral to the Martin Lee Doctoral programme and the IRR PhD training programme, offering a range of opportunities for our postgraduate students to engage with scientific and student communities. Activities include PhD days, discussion groups, poster days, researcher socials and science retreats. An annual Martin Lee Scholarship Symposium will bring the scholars and faculty on the programme together to share their research findings, while Hong Kong Summer Schools will offer Martin Lee Doctoral Scholars the opportunity to participate in academic and social activities at hosting research institutions in Hong Kong.

As a postgraduate student at Edinburgh Medical School you'll be at the heart of our dynamic and collaborative community. You will work in partnership with our passionate staff, who are dedicated to nurturing the unique talents of each student in helping tackle the biggest challenges facing our world today.

Explore what it's like to live and study in Edinburgh

Sharing our research with the public

CRM is a centre of excellence in public engagement and leads a major EU project, EuroStemCell, which provides digital information and educational resources on stem cells and their impact on society in multiple European languages. CIR’s Public Engagement and Communications committee aims to stimulate interaction between our researchers and the public around the themes, ambitions and ethos underpinning our research through a range of activities and resources. Students can hone their science communication skills through taking workshops facilitated by the University's Institute for Academic Development (IAD) and by participating in a range of public engagement activities IRR is involved in.

Public Engagement at CRM    I    Public Engagement at CIR

The University of Edinburgh – world leading research university in vibrant, historic city

Medical research at the University of Edinburgh has world-wide impact, including in many developing countries, and has benefitted millions of people in a range of biomedical areas. The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine traces its origins back nearly 500 years (Darwin, Simpson and Conan-Doyle are alumni) and is internationally renowned for its research and teaching.

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s leading research universities, consistently ranked one of the top 50 universities in the world. The QS World University Rankings 2022 have placed the University 16th in the world, while we ranked 30th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021.

For over four centuries, students and staff at The University of Edinburgh have rewritten history time and again through their achievements. They have explored space, revolutionised surgery, published era-defining books, paved the way for life-saving medical breakthroughs and introduced to the world many inventions, discoveries and ideas from penicillin to Dolly the sheep. We believed that anything is possible, we still do.

Edinburgh is a vibrant and historic capital city - regularly voted as one of the best places to live in the world - with world-famous cultural festivals and the mountains and beaches of Scotland on your doorstep.

Why choose Edinburgh?

Student life at The University of Edinburgh

Postgraduate Study at the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

Postgraduate Study Open Days, events and visits

Welcome to the 2021/2022 academic year

Current Martin Lee scholars

We currently have nine Martin Lee Scholars on the programme.

Four joined us in 2021, and five joined us in 2022.