The Roslin Institute

22/09/2026

Roslin Reels - the Roslin Institute's Dr Christine Tait-Burkard talks about her team's work on gene editing for pig viruses.

For more information on our research, check out our website:
https://www.roslin.ed.ac.uk/

21/09/2026

Researchers from around the world came together in Edinburgh for the 2026 Summer School in Epidemiology, Genetics and Modelling for Infectious Disease Control, jointly organised by colleagues from the Roslin Institute and Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems.

Experts from the University of Edinburgh, SLU in Sweden, University College Dublin, ETH Zurich and BioSS led lectures, practical sessions and group projects. Participants explored veterinary epidemiology, quantitative genetics, functional genomics and epidemiological modelling, applying their skills to real-world infectious disease challenges.

The programme also included research talks from participants, a tour of the Large Animal Research and Imaging Facility at Easter Bush, and plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas and build new connections.

The summer school was supported by the Eu-Li-Phe COST Action. Congratulations to everyone who took part, and thanks to the organisers and instructors who made the week possible.

11/09/2026

Join us for the second in a series of annual scientific lectures to celebrate the legacy of Professor Sir Ian Wilmut.

Booking is open for this year's event, featuring Professor Hans Clevers of Utrecht University, pioneer of tissue stem cell-based organoids.

His talk takes place at 3pm on Monday 12 October in the Roslin Institute Auditorium. This lecture, followed by a drinks reception from 4pm, is supported by the Roslin Foundation.

Attendance is free, but please note that booking is essential.
Please book via Eventbrite: https://edin.ac/4yucuU2

Roslin Foundation

08/09/2026

Professor Mike McGrew, an internationally renowned specialist in bird biology, is the subject of our latest interview.

He talks about career highlights and challenges, and his belief in good communication, empathy, and the value of diversity.

The Professor of Avian Reproductive Technologies on pioneering research to preserve rare breeds, targeting bird flu, and a dream of saving endangered species.

04/09/2026

Stem cells have been used to develop a source of immune cells in the lab, enabling the study of a disease that affects wild and domestic pigs.

The process will support studies to understand why African Swine Fever is lethal to domestic pigs, but causes only limited signs of illness in their wild counterparts.

The resource could inform the development of farmed pigs that are resilient to disease, and determine whether pigs could be enabled to be entirely resistant to ASF infection.

The Pirbright Institute



https://edin.ac/4x6ef8S

04/09/2026

We were pleased to invite colleagues from academia and industry to the XVIIIth Avian Immunology Research Group (AIRG) meeting this week.

This programme represented the strength and breadth of research in the field, with sessions spanning innate and adaptive immunity, host-pathogen interactions and the microbiome, together with discussions on genetic resistance, ecology and environment and emerging technologies and models. We also enjoyed a rich programme of social activities and networking.

Thank you to all our speakers, delegates and all who contributed to a successful event.

https://edin.ac/46EHDZ4

25/08/2026

A €1.25m European collaboration aims to speed the eradication of BSE.

The team, led by the Roslin Institute, will seek to understand the origins of disease and the cause of modern-day cases, and inform targeted strategies to improve disease detection and control.

Read the full blog:

European research consortium seeks long term solutions to prion diseases.

17/08/2026

A renewed five-year funding award will support experts from the Roslin Institute and The Pirbright Institute in the second phase of the Livestock Antibody Hub.

The collaboration seeks to understand antibody responses to infection in cattle, pig and poultry, to aid development of vaccines and diagnostics for animal diseases.

https://edin.ac/4bO3Nv4
The Pirbright Institute

14/08/2026

Global food security forecasts could be improved by accounting for advances in livestock science alongside the effects of climate change, a modelling study suggests.

Researchers updated a global economic model to account for heat stress and genomic selection, which uses DNA insights to support breeding for desirable traits. The benefits of genomic selection outweighed projected losses from heat stress, altering forecasts of food production, greenhouse gas emissions and land use.

This proof-of-concept study highlights the importance of reflecting developments in livestock science in forecasts used to inform food security and climate policy.

Read the full news story: https://edin.ac/4bRaQDk

Updated model shows benefits of breeding management could potentially outweigh negative impact of climate change.

28/07/2026

Today marks World Nature Conservation Day, highlighting the importance of protecting the biodiversity that underpins healthy ecosystems.

Our researchers are working with partners in Kenya to develop genomic tools that could support the conservation of critically endangered eastern black rhinos.

By making genetic monitoring more affordable, the project aims to help conservation experts manage genetic diversity and support healthier rhino populations into the future.

Find out more: https://edin.ac/43dFy4O