Edinburgh Neuroscience

13/05/2026

Come to Craigmillar Library on 20 May and discover one of Scotland’s most remarkable stories—where ordinary schoolchildren from 1947 became part of a world-leading study into memory, ageing, and the human mind.

Decades after sitting a simple classroom test, some were invited by the University of Edinburgh to take part in a unique research journey that continues today. Now turning 90, their experiences are helping scientists understand how our thinking skills change across a lifetime.

This event brings their story to life—showing how local people became key contributors to ground-breaking discoveries about healthy brain ageing.

No scientific background needed—just curiosity. Come along and be part of the story.

This event will be facilitated by Barbora Skarabela, Lothian Birth Cohorts. Booking
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-11-year-olds-helped-discover-secrets-of-healthy-brain-ageing-tickets-1989083065995?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/05/2026

Scientists have uncovered new evidence that challenges long-held assumptions about the causes of a common type of stroke, offering clues as to why widely used treatments may not work.

The study found that the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries does not appear to cause lacunar ischaemic stroke, which accounts for around a quarter of all ischaemic strokes – strokes caused by a blocked blood vessel – in the UK each year.

Instead, researchers from Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research identified a different vascular abnormality – enlargement and widening of arteries in the brain – as being strongly linked to lacunar stroke.

Click the link in the comments to read the article 👇

13/04/2026

13/04/2026

✨Wee scientists needed!✨
🔎Looking for wee scientists aged 17-19 months 🔎 You and your child can help us understand how children learn new words by taking part in a 30-min study in our lab at the University of Edinburgh. Please follow this link to register your interest: https://forms.gle/67sE5A5oPRAD8cnK9 or email us directly at ppls.phonotactics@ed.ac.uk
We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our lab!

13/04/2026

Research is strongest when shaped with patients, not just for them. Read how lived experience leads to better care in this blog by Rowling Scholar Johnny Tam
📄 Link in comments.

The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Neuroscience The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research

10/04/2026

Brain swelling in the days following a stroke caused by a brain bleed is linked to a higher risk of death and disability, a study suggests.

09/04/2026

A single dose of an innovative gene therapy could eliminate hard-to-treat brain tumours and prevent them from coming back, according to new research 🧠

The findings, based on a study in mice, provide compelling evidence for a ‘one and done’ approach to treating human glioblastoma, the most lethal form of brain cancer, experts say.

The innovative treatment is built on more than a decade of research led by Professor Steve Pollard of the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, spun out into biotech company Trogenix in 2023, with in-human trials planned for 2026.

Tap the link in the comments for the full story 👇

08/04/2026

07/04/2026

Big congratulations to James Boardman, Sue Fletcher-Watson and Tara Spires-Jones. Fellowships to Scotland's national academy are given in recognition of academic excellence as well as an ongoing commitment to advancing knowledge for the benefit of society as a whole. 👏 🧠 👏 🧠👏 🧠👏 🧠👏 🧠👏

New Fellows 2026 🎉

Today, the RSE has announced that 43 individuals deemed excellent in their field were elected as Fellows, who will use their knowledge for the public good as part of Scotland’s National Academy.

Read the full announcement: https://rse.org.uk/global-leaders-in-health-science-and-research-elected-as-rse-fellows-in-2026/

03/04/2026

Emily Sena, Catherine Heymans and Janey Jones were centre stage at last night's opening gala of 2026. A panel discussion on the 'First women of Science', hosted by Nicola Sturgeon, explored some of amazing women who changed the scientific path of history forever but whom were barely recognised in their own time. They considered the modern era and if there has been much progress in women's voices being heard. A fascinating and thought-provoking discussion to launch this fantastic Edinburgh festival. It runs from 4 to 19 April at various venues across the city.

Emily Sena is Professor of Meta-science and Translational Medicine in the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research at the University of Edinburgh. She is also the EDI lead for the Institute, ensuring that best practice is embedded in our culture as well as our activities.