Edinburgh BioQuarter

14/04/2026

🧬 Last week, Institute for Regeneration and Repair spinout, Trogenix, took a major step towards eradicating one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.

The findings, published in Nature Magazine, highlight complete tumour eradication in 83% of cases in a pre-clinical model of glioblastoma. Through a new gene therapy approach, the treatment not only destroyed tumours but also activated the immune system to prevent them from returning, all without damaging healthy brain tissue. 🧠

With Trogenix now a step closer to clinical trials, this offers patients and families facing the devastating disease a real hope for more effective treatments.

Speaking on next steps, Chief Scientific Officer of Trogenix, Professor Steve Pollard, said: "We are committed to moving these findings as quickly and safely as possible to patients and are optimistic that this can provide a new approach to tackling solid tumours."

The end goal of all the work done at Edinburgh BioQuarter is to have a real-world impact and help those facing some of the toughest health challenges. This research is a stellar example of the innovation and breakthroughs our community of life-science experts can achieve when they collaborate and bring their vast experience and knowledge together.

Discover more about the ground-breaking research here: https://go.nature.com/4tGG1HS

07/04/2026

🌍 This , we’re celebrating the power of working together.

This year’s theme - “Together for health. Stand with science” - is all about how collaboration helps turn research into real change for people, communities and the planet.

At Edinburgh BioQuarter, that spirit of partnership is at the heart of everything we do. From researchers and clinicians to students and community groups, it’s people working together that help bring new ideas to life and improve health outcomes.

As we look ahead, we aim to grow BioQuarter into Edinburgh’s Health Innovation District - a place where science, care and community come together to shape the future of health, right here in the city and beyond.

Visit our website to learn more about our work: https://edinburghbioquarter.com/

03/04/2026

We're celebrating and the many ways our campus supports active travel. 🚶

With dedicated walking routes, green spaces and strong connections to local paths and public transport, Edinburgh BioQuarter makes it easier to build movement into the working day.

So why not make it a part of your daily commute, or take a lunchtime walk around the campus today? You'll not only be supporting your own wellbeing, but you'll also help create a more sustainable environment for everyone who works, studies and visits Edinburgh BioQuarter. 👣 🍃

💬 We'd love to hear from you - how do you build active travel into your day? Share your tips or favourite routes in the comments below.

From quiet routes to Walking Scotland paths, explore our sustainable and healthy travel options: https://edinburghbioquarter.com/biolife/sustainable-travel/

02/04/2026

🔬 A fantastic day at the Craigmillar Science Festival!

Last Friday, we were proud to support a brilliant day of hands-on science at Castlebrae Community Campus for the annual Craigmillar Science Festival, welcoming local families to explore, experiment and get curious.

From microscopy and chemistry experiments to maths challenges, VR experiences and creative neuroscience activities, there was something for everyone to enjoy. The drop-in format meant families could explore at their own pace - and every station was buzzing with activity throughout the day!

This year, to mark 300 years of Edinburgh Medical School, we even had extra activities to share the school's past, present and future with the wider community.

Events like this are so important in bringing science into the community, sparking curiosity in young people, and showing just how fun and accessible STEM can be. 🧬

A huge thank you to all the amazing volunteers and partner organisations who helped make the day such a success. 🙌

Interested in finding out more about our annual science festival? Check out our website - https://bit.ly/4dplwuz

The University of Edinburgh, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Usher Institute - The University of Edinburgh, Roslinct, IntoUniversity

20/03/2026

📸 A celebration of 300 years of Edinburgh Medical School

Opening today, the Faces of Edinburgh Medical School exhibition is a powerful tribute to the people who have shaped three centuries of medical teaching, research and innovation.

On display on the Mound for 6 weeks (before moving to Portobello), the exhibition features portraits of individuals connected to Edinburgh Medical School - all nominated by its community of staff, students and alumni.

At the heart of the exhibition are 13 striking new portraits by photographer Laurence Winram, alongside a wider collection of 52 images from archives and community contributions.

Together, they tell the story of a community that continues to push boundaries in medicine and health - right here in Edinburgh.

As part of the wider BioQuarter community, Edinburgh Medical School plays a key role in shaping the future of healthcare through research, education and innovation.

✨ If you're in the city, we’d highly recommend stopping by to take a look.

🔗 Find out more: https://bit.ly/4sZzA2l

16/03/2026

🔬 Last week we celebrated by bringing science straight into the classroom!

The BioQuarter Community Impact team, alongside a brilliant group of volunteers, took over science lessons to deliver hands-on workshops focused on genetics and health research.

Over the course of the week, we worked with six S2 classes, reaching 80 pupils through interactive sessions exploring topics like microscopes, ultrasound, simple inheritance, genetic diseases, and analysing blood sugar in type 1 diabetes.

Students were fascinated to see real fruit flies used in research, and many shared their own career ambitions - from becoming eye researchers to dentists!

Teachers were incredibly positive about the experience, with one describing it as “an absolutely brilliant input that the learners have been very positive about.”

Activities like this are important in sparking curiosity and inspiring young people to explore science and health research. It was fantastic to see so many pupils engaging with the activities and discovering just how exciting science can be.

A big thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the week such a success! 👏

11/03/2026

This month we’re collecting donations for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland - the country’s largest health charity dedicated to helping people live well with chest, heart and stroke conditions.

Through care, advice and support services, the charity helps thousands of people across Scotland rebuild their lives after diagnosis and recovery.

If you’re able to donate, the collection box is currently accepting:

👚 Clothes
👟 Shoes
📚 Books
🎲 Board games
⚽ Sports gear (no safety equipment such as cycle helmets)
💿 DVDs & CDs

Every donation helps support the incredible work Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland does for communities across the country. Find the donation box at the reception of the NINE.

08/03/2026

Today, on International Women's Day, we're spotlighting the incredible women in STEM based at Edinburgh BioQuarter! 👩‍⚕️

Across our campus, women are leading world-class research, delivering outstanding clinical care, teaching and mentoring the next generation and driving innovation that improves lives. From laboratories and lecture theatres to clinics and wards, their expertise, leadership and dedication shape everything we do on this campus.

We're celebrating their achievements and recognising the importance of creating environments where women can thrive, collaborate and lead at every stage of their career. 🤝



Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Roslinct

03/03/2026

🧠 Scottish Brain Sciences is hosting the International Brain Health Conference in Edinburgh this May – and you’re invited.

On 18-19 May 2026, researchers, clinicians, innovators and life sciences professionals will gather at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa to explore and share their latest breakthroughs in understanding, diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative diseases.

This is a brilliant opportunity for Scotland’s brain health community to connect, collaborate and share knowledge that could shape the future of dementia prevention and care.

If you work in neuroscience, healthcare, research or innovation – this is an event you won’t want to miss.

👉 Secure your space today - https://events.humanitix.com/international-brain-health-conference-2026

Know a colleague who you think should be there? Tag them in the comments! 👇

You are invited to join the first annual International Brain Health Conference on May 18-19th, 2026, in Edinburgh, UK.

23/02/2026

A promising new approach to help pinpoint inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) diagnosis is in the works thanks to researchers at The University of Edinburgh's Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR).

Traditional methods have been known to be invasive and uncomfortable, but this new test, which analyses immune cell signals in the blood, may help clinicians distinguish IBD from other causes of gut symptoms more accurately and earlier. 📊

By identifying specific patterns of immune activity, the test offers a targeted way to understand the causes of inflammation on an individual basis. Not only could this reduce the need for invasive procedures, but it also supports a more personalised approach to care for people with suspected IBD.

Find out more about the research here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/new-test-could-help-pinpoint-ibd-diagnosis



Edinburgh Medical School

A test that rapidly detects signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in stool samples could improve future diagnosis and monitoring of the condition, a study suggests.

19/02/2026

📣 Building on the success of previous sessions, our HPV vaccination awareness workshops are back!

We've already kicked things off at Holy Rood RC High School, reaching more than 200 pupils with the incredible support of the NHS Lothian vaccination team and our BioQuarter volunteers.

During the sessions, pupils:
🧠 Take part in an interactive HPV quiz
💉 Learn what to expect on vaccination day
👥 Explore how herd immunity works
🔬 View HPV-infected cells under a microscope

Did you know?
According to the NHS, the HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by up to 87% when given at the recommended age - a powerful example of prevention in action.

We're proud to support young people in the local community in understanding this life-saving vaccine and feeling confident about their health decisions.

🔗 You can read about the impact of last year's workshops in this BBC feature:

The HPV vaccine programme, which started in 2008, has been hugely successful across Scotland.

10/02/2026

Researchers at The University of Edinburgh, in partnership with the University of Glasgow and industry collaborators, have demonstrated that a new Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracer - LW223 - is safe and tolerable in healthy volunteers. This advanced imaging tool targets a protein involved in inflammation and could help clinicians visualise inflammatory processes in conditions from heart disease to neurological disorders.

LW223 overcomes limitations seen with previous tracers, making it potentially suitable for use across a broader population. This offers a valuable new approach for diagnosis, monitoring and future treatment research.

It's incredible to see this work type of bench-to-bedside innovation emerging from Edinburgh BioQuarter's campus. 🔬

Read more about the advanced technology here: https://bit.ly/4bMJ4J4

New Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracer LW223 from the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow has been shown to be safe and tolerable in healthy humans.