News
Genetics expert appointed next head of Roslin Institute
Professor John Hammond has been appointed the next Director of the Roslin Institute.
Professor Hammond, an expert in genetics, genomics, and immunology, is currently Director of Research at The Pirbright Institute. He is expected to take up his post at Roslin in May.
Dog food accounts for 1% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, study finds
Dog food accounts for 1% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to research that found wet, raw and meat-rich products were associated with substantially higher emissions than dry kibble.
Source: The Guardian
$14.9m award supports data-driven livestock development
A $14.9 million grant will strengthen work on livestock data insights by SEBI-Livestock, hosted at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
The five-year Evidence into Action (EnAct) grant from the Gates Foundation will enhance the work of the SEBI-Livestock team, which has collaborated with the Gates Foundation to monitor the impact of the foundation’s livestock investments for almost a decade.
Fat recycling mechanism could boost salmon health
Aquaculture experts, in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, University of Stirling and Benchmark Genetics, have identified a fat recycling process in Atlantic salmon cells that could help enable healthier feed strategies and improved disease resilience.
This process helps break down excess fat inside cells, and its discovery could play a major role in tackling the challenges of modern salmon diets.
Data-driven programme designed to tackle global challenges
A flexible new postgraduate programme designed to tackle global challenges through genetics and data skills will launch in September 2025, supported by a dedicated e-learning team and aimed at training the next generation of experts in a range of industries and academic fields.
Artificial intelligence supports pig welfare
A combination of tracking technology and social mapping that reveals how pigs build relationships over time could inform welfare strategies. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been combined with techniques to map animals’ interactions, to gain insights into pigs’ social relationships. Scientists at the Roslin Institute, in collaboration with industrial partners PIC and an international research team, examined how pigs associated with one another over time by using technology to analyse their proximity during social interactions.
Large-scale study focuses on fish health and welfare
An £8.5m, large-scale research partnership seeks to improve the welfare and productivity of farmed salmon in Scotland.
In a project led by the Roslin Institute partnered with the UK’s largest salmon farmer Mowi Scotland, experts will seek to understand how to limit the impact of chronic complex diseases, enabling better health and welfare.
Pig studies support ongoing Covid-19 research
Researchers from across the University of Edinburgh and Moredun Research Institute, are collaborating in a study of gene-edited pigs to better understand severe Covid-19, providing insights into disease progression and treatment development.
Drug trial studies plant-based oral cancer therapy for dogs
Vets at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies will investigate the effectiveness of treatment derived from berries on canine oral melanoma. A clinical trial is set to test a new treatment for an aggressive form of oral cancer that affects dogs.
Science Insights 2024: Inspiring future scientists
The University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine has successfully concluded its annual Science Insights outreach programme. This year, the initiative provided school pupils with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of scientific research and exploration.